Campbell leads U18’s into Last 16 of Youth Cup
This evening saw the under 18’s come up against Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup. The game took place at the bet365 stadium and was watched live by 1,500 people on Stoke’s Facebook. Tyrese Campbell stole the show scoring a hattrick, leading the Potters to a 4-1 victory, progressing to the 5th round with a home tie to Brighton or Cambridge.
The Potters set up in a 3-5-2 and had the best of the first half. Right-Wing-Back Tom Edwards was the early driving force, making the most of some excellent balls over the back of the Forest back line. It only took the under 18’s 5 minutes to open the scoring, as man of the moment Tyrese Campbell flashed past his man and beautifully placed the ball into the bottom corner.
Forest then began to grow into the game, managing to win a free kick out wide, which ultimately came to nothing. The Potters moved back up the field and within seconds it was 2-0. Campbell had scored again, pouncing onto a loose ball in the box, smacking home a half volley from 15 yards. Campbell continued to dominate the Forest defence, cutting out a pacey yet strong figure at the helm of the attack, but he could not find another goal in the first half.
Things got heated in the 22nd minute as a Bretton broke into the box, and was tussling with Silva, the Forest man went down and a free kick was given to the Potters for a dive. Some handbags ensued but all kept their heads and nothing to unpleasant occurred. Seeing a clear dive in an under 18 fixture felt wrong and perhaps displays some of the issues facing modern football.
Forest continued to struggle with balls in behind and this time it was Greenidge who span into the channel and won a free kick. Unfortunately, he could not get enough on his header from the resulting cross to give the Potters a third. Campbell continued to terrorise the Forest back line as he managed to make his way to the by-line but his ball to Greenidge was intercepted by the defender, preventing Stoke getting a certain third goal.
Forest broke quickly and McCormick had pulled one goal back for the Nottingham youth side. Scoring with a strong finish firing the ball across the goalkeeper, tempers again overflowed in the celebration and the players were once again squaring up to each other. A series of two corners saw Forest with an excellent chance as the ball dropped to a Nottingham player only yards from goal, but Deckzi kept his goal and ensured that Stoke held their lead into half time.
The end of the first half and start of the second half were marred with several strong challenges flying in which saw Stoke get two yellow cards either side of the half, with Forest being awarded one as well. The hard tackling continued and 10 minutes into the second half Charlesworth was given a second yellow card for a poor tackle on Souttar.
The Potters began to take the game to the opposition, in a clear effort to make their numerical superiority pay off. Stoke dominated possession and in the 70th minute Greenidge was slid in behind the Forest defence. Left one on one with the keeper the striker shanked his shot high and wide. Greenidge’s poor evening in front of goal continued as Edwards whipped in a high dipping cross but Greendige’s header flew high over the bar.
Stoke finally made the extra man pay when Campbell got in behind the Forest defence and coolly slotted home for his hat-trick. The Potters were coasting now, and an excellent move down the left flank saw Campbell free in the box, but he was denied a 4th by a good save.
Yet from the resulting corner the Potters had continued the tradition of sides scoring 4 goals at the bet365. As Read, who had replaced Cherdieu at half time, bundled home a scrappy goal. After, the hattrick hero and star of the match, Campbell, was replaced by the young Hungarian, Szereto.
Greenidge again broke into the box but his left footed drive was saved by the keeper, the resulting corner almost saw the Potters score again. In the dying moments of the match a long ball over the top of the Forest defence fell kindly for Greenidge, who shifted it onto his left and placed his shot narrowly over the bar. The game finished with a resounding 4-1 victory to Stoke.
Ratings
GK: Deczki – 7
CB: Cherdieu – 7
CB: Souttar – 8
CB: Silva – 7
RWB: Edwards – 8
CM: Dunwoody – 7
CM: Sorenson – 7
CM: Twyford – 7
LWB: McJannet – 7
ST: Greenidge – 7
ST: Campbell – 10
SUB: Read – 7
SUB: Szereto – N/A
Written by Tom Thrower
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