Post-Match Report

Match report: Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal U-23s

Chelsea Under 23 -

Aldershot Town FC
Premier League 2 - Division One
Premier League 2 - Division One
  Chelsea Under 23
      
              C. Brown (17
               56)
               Mola (32)
          
   crest
Chelsea Under 23
C. Brown (17 56) Mola (32)
3 1
  Arsenal U23
      
                  Cottrell  (42)
            
   crest
Arsenal U23
Cottrell (42)

Our unbeaten run in the league came to an end as goals from Charlie Brown and Clinton Mola cancelled out Ben Cottrell’s strike.

WHAT HAPPENED 

Folarin Balogun came close in the opening exchanges but after good work to gain space, his shot was well saved. 

The hosts almost took the lead when Dynel Simeu fired at goal from the edge of the box but Zak Swanson’s header diverted the danger away for a corner. 

Chelsea’s pressure payed off minutes later when Brown raced behind our defence and slotted past Karl Hein. 

We responded well to going behind as Swanson saw his deflected cross bounce the wrong side of the goal line before Nathan Tormey fired a half volley into the side netting from inside the box. 

The Blues grabbed a second, somewhat against the run of play, when Clinton Mola’s strike following a corner took a deflection, wrong footed Hein and hit the back of the net. 

On the stroke of half-time, Balogun saw a shot saved from inside the box but Cottrell brought us back into the game when he fired home the rebound from inside the six-yard area.

We came close to an equaliser minutes into the second-half when Balogun slotted Trae Coyle into the box, but our forward saw his effort saved from close range.

Balogun thought he should have been awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute when he went down under a challenge from Jamie Cumming, but the referee was quick to wave away the protests. 

Chelsea’s two-goal advantage was restored shortly after when Brown headed Billy Gilmour’s cross past Hein from close range. 

Coyle was denied by Cumming once again after our forward struck a goal-bound effort towards the top corner but the fingertips of the Chelsea ‘keeper kept it out. 

Minutes before full-time, Mola weaved through our defence and shot from inside the area, but Hein made a great save to divert his effort wide. 

WHAT IT MEANS 

We remain fourth in the Premier League 2 table behind Chelsea, Derby County and Everton.

WHAT’S NEXT 

Steve Bould’s side next face Manchester City away from home on Saturday, October 26 at 4.30pm (UK Time)

By Sam Cox

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