WHAT HAPPENED
We maintained our place at the top of the U-18 Premier League table with a resounding 8-0 win over Swansea City on Sunday.
Trae Coyle scores a hat-trick, while Ben Cottrell netted a stunning brace with two left-footed strikes to guide us to our seventh consecutive league victory.
It took us just nine minutes to unlock the Swans’ defence, when Sam Greenwood latched onto Cottrell’s pass and found the bottom corner with a first-time finish.
Shortly after Folarin Balogun doubled our advantage with a low drive, taking his tally up to 23 for the season across all competitions, before Cottrell found the top-right corner from the edge of the box with a powerful left-footed strike.
Mark McGuinness made it four in the 37th minute with a thumping header from a corner.
Following the break we continued to place the visitors under pressure, and after a number of promising chances, Coyle put pace and power on a free-kick to find the back of the net from 20 yards.
Cottrell then went on to score his second of the afternoon, a curling effort from the edge of the area, before Coyle joined him on a brace by finishing into the roof of the net.
The latter completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute with a tap-in from six yards out. Matt Smith’s inch-perfect pass across the face of goal made it impossible to miss.
It was the perfect confidence booster ahead of our potential title-deciding clash with Tottenham on Tuesday.
WHAT IT MEANS
WHAT’S NEXT
Ken Gillard’ s side must now prepare for a clash with second-place Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, April 2.
The game will take place at London Colney with kick-off at 12pm (UK time). Access by invitation only.
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