Two goals in each half for the Saints meant they eased past City to get the three points in the U18 Premier League (South).

The home side dominated the opening stages of the game, looking dangerous every time they went forward.

Despite the early pressure, both City's Isak Thorvaldsson (pictured) and Tyrese Omotoye nearly broke in-behind the Southampton defence on a number of occasions, but the through balls were not holding up on the wet surface.

Winger Enzo Robise stung the hands of Sam Blair in the City goal after eight minutes - the ball fell for the wide player outside the box, but the Saints attacker could only direct the ball towards the hands of Blair.

Fifteen minutes into the first half Southampton went a goal up. Will Ferry managed to toe poke the ball over Blair after a scramble in the box and into the back of the net, despite being surrounded by City players.

The Saints remained dangerous, despite City starting to keep possession as Christian Norton managed to squeeze a shot to the right of the City goal, but his effort was left to run past the post by Blair.

City started to threaten the Southampton goal after 20 minutes had been played, Anthonius Berkeley crossed the ball from the right-hand side, which caused havoc in the opposition box, however Jack Bycroft gathered the ball at the second attempt.

The match was starting to open up mid-way through the first half, and Saints nearly doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark. Robise’s free kick from the left was met by the head of Norton, but the forward was unable to keep his shot on target.

A few minutes later City were level. Atli Barkarson’s outstretched leg managed to pull the ball back to Thorvaldsson, who smashed home from close range to score for the third time in two games for the Under-18s.

Southampton responded instantly, Robise managed to get on the end of Fleary’s cross after getting in front of a City defender before blasting the ball into the back of the net to restore the home side's lead.

Towards the end of the first-half, Tyrese Omotoye was put through behind the Saints defence, the striker only had the goalkeeper to beat but was unable to generate any power in his finish and the keeper collected with ease.

The home side got the second-half under way, and started the first half as they had played the majority of the first, in possession of the ball.

Eight minutes into the second-half, the Canaries were nearly further behind after Will Ferry cut in from the right hand side, taking on two City players then smashing the ball against the far post, before the ball was cleared away from dangerous by Louis Lomas at the heart of the City defence.

A few minutes later Taymar Fleary’s chipped shot from an extremely tight angle found its way over Blair and into the back of the net to make it 3-1, the City keeper nearly kept it out but the ball was just out of his reach.

With just over 20 minutes left in the game at Southampton, City went down to 10 men after substitute Giurgi came off with an injury after colliding with a Southampton player.

Despite playing with 10 men, City were still in search of a goal and went agonisingly close with just over ten minutes to go, the ball fell at the feet of Lomas on the penalty spot, the defender span round and placed the ball towards goal, however the ball hit the inside of the right post and ran across the goal line and then eventually cleared.

Three minutes later the Canaries were 4-1 down, a dangerous cross from the right-hand side was met by Southampton’s striker Norton who prodded the ball home into the bottom left corner, giving Blair no chance and putting the game out of reach for City.

City XI: Blair; Berkeley (Dronfield 60), Lomas, Omobamidele, Barkarson, Vaughan, Olopade, Richards, Ahmadi (Giurgi 60 (Dickson-Peters, 87)), Thorvaldsson, Omotoye.

Under-18s beaten in latest league fixture at Southampton

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