WHAT HAPPENED
Despite two fine goals from Sam Greenwood and Kido Taylor-Hart, we were beaten 6-3 by Brighton in the U-18 Premier League on Saturday.
Our youngsters were fluid in the final third, but were ultimately made to pay for a number of defensive errors.
The Seagulls started strongly and were quick to open the scoring when Lorent Tolaj pounced on a loose ball and fired into the roof of the net.
Greenwood then equalised with a stunning free-kick from 20 yards for his second of the season, but less than five minutes later we were trailing once more, Tolaj lofting the ball over the onrushing James Hillson.
Tolaj completed his hat-trick shortly before the break with a curling finish into the far corner.
We stepped things up in the second half and there was hope of a comeback when Alfie Matthews found the back of the net via a Sam Peckham deflection, which would go down as an own goal.
That hope was short-lived though, as Ben Wilson dinked an impressive finish into the top corner. Tolaj scored his fourth 15 minutes from time, cutting inside from the right and fizzing a low left-footed effort past Hillson.
Taylor-Hart then went on to score a stunner, twisting and turning inside the area before firing into the top corner for his first of the season, but Stefan Vukoje made it six late on with a strike from distance.
WHAT IT MEANS
WHAT’S NEXT
Ken Gillard’s side will be hoping to return to winning ways against Reading on Saturday, October 5.
The game will take place at Reading Training Ground with kick-off at 11am (UK time).
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