Three goals in 16 first half minutes sent Aston Villa’s Under 23 side to a comfortable victory over Southampton at their Staplewood Campus on Monday evening.
Kevin MacDonald’s youngsters did have a slightly more experienced feel to the starting line up with Andre Green continuing his return to full fitness and we had James Bree and Callum O’Hare in the group as well.
Going into the game we sat in fourth place in the PL2 table and with a good goalscoring record at this level, that simply continued as we hit four on the day – Green opened the scoring before Harry McKirdy scored from the penalty spot, Aaron Tshibola and Easah Suliman added one a piece to take us to victory, although the hosts did find the net once.
Credit to Southampton’s match report on their official site as they describe us as ‘deserved’ winners and it’s not like they played an overly youthful side either as their starting eleven included Matt Targett, Florin Gardos, Josh Sims and Sam McQueen.
Southampton:
Rose, Valery, Targett, O’Connor, Gardos, Jones, Sims, Slattery (Tella 69), Olomola, McQueen, Johnson (Cook 46).
Subs:
Latham, Rowthorn, Mdlalose.
Goals – McQueen (45)
Aston Villa:
Sarkic, Bree, Clark, Suliman, Bedeau, Clarke, O’Hare, Doyle-Hayes, McKirdy, Tshibola, Green.
Subs:
Borg, Johansson, Cox, Prosser, Knibbs.
Yellows – Suliman.
Goals – Green (24), McKirdy (pen 29), Tshibola (39), Suliman (88).
I didn’t spot the live stream in time to promote it, but if anyone wants to see the goals, Southampton’s Twitter feed is graciously carrying all five from the match.
Both sides also wore black armbands in memory of the great Cyrille Regis.
Sub details later if I can find them.
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