Sheffield Wednesday Under 18s 3-0 Crewe Alexandra Under 18s
Borukov’s hattrick sinks Alexandra
The Wednesday youth team show their class as they dominate against a direct Crewe side. The day started off quite bright and sunny, however as we approached kickoff, the wind had picked up and due to the state of the pitch, we knew it was going to be a scrappy affair.
Both teams were slow to make any impact in the opening ten minutes. The main reason being that Isaac Rice was down for a long time with a head injury. After receiving a lengthy time of treatment, he was replaced by Joe West.
Wednesday saw a great opportunity slip by them early on. Dawodu intercepted Heath’s switch from the right and played it to Hughes who swung the ball in towards the back post where O’Brien found himself seconds too late as he failed to connect with the accurate cross.
Crewe finally broke out of Wednesday’s possession play and had a chance of their own on the twentieth minute mark. Alex Hurst broke down the left wing. Hurst cut in and instantly fired wide of the target from the edge of the area.
However five minutes later, The Owls broke the deadlock and went ahead. Josh Dawodu latched onto Liam Waldocks layoff and whipped in a cross towards the backpost where Borukov rose highest and headed across the keeper and into the back of the net.
Alexandra searched for a way back into the game and almost did straight from kickoff. Heath lofted the ball over the Wednesday back four. Challis Johnson watched the ball come over his shoulder but ended up slicing his effort wide.
Moments later, Lonchar went close to doubling the lead. Jordan found space on the edge of the area and fired towards goal but Will Appleyard reacted quickly and saved with his feet.
Waldock was involved with the attack once again with ten minutes remaining of the first period. Waldock picked out the run of Borukov. The Bulgarian striker took it in his stride and rifled an effort towards goal. Unfortunately for the forward, the keeper matched his shot and batted the ball away to safety.
Wednesday extended their lead thanks to another goal from Preslav Borukov. Winger Jordan O’Brien darted down the right flank after collecting Ciaran Brennan’s important clearance. O’Brien outpaced Alex Hurst before crossing into the box. Borukov connected with the cross as he glanced his header past the reach of the keeper to make it 2-0.
The halftime whistle went and the home side were rightly on top.
As the second half began, Crewe enjoyed a large spell of possession and pressure as they looked to stage a comeback in this tie.
Forward Luke Walsh had a good opportunity saved to pull a goal back. Walsh held the ball with his back to goal. He smartly turned past Waldock and shot towards the target. The attempt was heading quickly to the right of the keeper but Joe Walker got across and parried the ball away from danger.
Ten minutes later, Crewe had another chance to get back in the match. Connor Heath’s deep freekick was tapped across goal by Walsh. Aaron Lomas went to, presumingly, smash the ball into the goal but Wednesday Under 18s captain Ciaran Brennan dived in at the last second and tackled the Crewe number 8.
Wednesday then had their first chance of the second period minutes after Crewe’s endeavour. Hughes twisted and turned his way into the visitors area before firing towards goal however the keeper did really well to get down and stop the shot with his arm.
Their was some controversy after Hughes’ chance as the Owls were reduced down to ten men. Josh Dawodu was the culprit when he hurled down Luke Walsh as he advanced through on goal. From the following freekick, Regan Griffiths struck the woodwork.
Conor Grant went close to adding a third for his club. Grant ‘Cruyff turned’ his marker and curled a shot towards goal but the ball cannoned off the crossbar.
Borukov was denied his hattrick, five minutes from time, due to last-ditch defending and a great save. Borukov’s initial shot was blocked bravely by Luke Barlow. The ball came back to the striker and, on his second bite of the cherry, Will Appleyard again got down quickly to keep the score line at 2-0.
A minute later, Crewe saw another chance denied by Joe Walker before Griffiths was dismissed. Connor Heath stuck a ferocious volley from 30 yards towards goal which Walker could only parry away. In the aftermath of that opportunity, Regan Griffths saw a second yellow card for a very late challenge on Reaney, this levelled up the amount of men on each team.
On the stroke of fulltime, Preslav Borukov completed his hattrick and confirmed all three points for the young Owls. Iyad Hamud nicked the ball away from Appleyard and gave it to O’Brien. O’Brien unselfishly squared it to Borukov who fired it past two covering defenders to send Wednesday to second place in their league.
STAR MAN: Ciaran Brennan
Although Borukovs' name would have been on everybody's lips, I thought I'd go with the young captain. Brennan was commanding and solid throughout the fixture. He got stuck in to make sure that Wednesday rounded off a good performance with a clean sheet. Brennan looks like a future leader and hopefully he'll progress and get even better with age and experience.
Goals: Borukov (25’, 44’, 90’)
SWFC: Joe Walker, Josh Dawodu (s/o 73’), Josh Reaney, Liam Waldock (Charlie Reaney), Isaac Rice (Joe West), Ciaran Brennan, Ben Hughes, Conor Grant, Preslav Borukov, Jordan Lonchar (Iyad Hamud), Jordan O’Brien
Unused Subs: Layton Swaine, Arijus Brazinskas
CAFC: Will Appleyard, Luke Barlow, Rio Adebesi, Regan Griffths (s/o 86’), Billy Sass-Davies, Connor Heath, Joe Lynch, Aaron Lomas (Ola Odipe), Challis Johnson (Malachi Linton), Luke Walsh, Alex Hurst (Luke Offord)
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