Our men’s under-18s made it three consecutive games unbeaten in Premier League South on Saturday after they drew 2-2 at Crystal Palace.
The hosts took the lead after eight minutes when Albion conceded an indirect free-kick just outside their own six-yard area. Asher Agbinone was teed up and hammered a low shot to put the hosts in the lead.
We responded shortly after the restart, when Tommy Reid’s quick free-kick down the right flank was controlled well by Bailey Smith. He moved it onto Josh Duffus who pulled it across the face of goal for Harry Mills to fire in at the back post.
Arthur Brammer’s team took the lead when Ruairi McConville nodded in from Mills’s corner after 62 minutes, but the Northern Ireland under-17 international tripped David Obou in the Albion box to give Palace the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.
Obou’s spot-kick was kept out in superb fashion though, as Reid dived to his right to tip it onto the post.
Reid faced another penalty when McConville was deemed to have caught Joseph Gibbard. This time the keeper was beaten as Cormac Austin hammered down the left of the goal.
“It was a typical derby game, it was a bit scrappy at times,” Brammer said. “The boys showed character to come from behind and then we scored two good goals in quick succession and were in the ascendancy.
“The main thing to work on now is to carry on the way we were playing when we took the lead and capitalise on those winning moments.
“Tommy Reid pulled off an unbelievable save from a penalty, but they got another in dubious circumstances which they scored from. Both teams would have taken a point in the end.
“We had spoken about a new mini season for 2023 and we’ve had positive results against West Brom, Arsenal and Crystal Palace. I am really pleased with the standards we have shown so far this year.”