Saints Under 21's 7-1 Nike Academy

Martin Hunter was able to give Frazer Richardson his first run out for the club as the youngsters turned on the style yesterday afternoon.

The rout began with a quick fire double from Ben Reeves. Normally a right-back Ben was playing in an advanced position for this game.

Good work from Alex Chamberlain down the left with him getting to the bye-line before crossing to Sam Hoskins who helped the ball run to Ben who made no mistake from 6 yards.

The second came from good work by Lee Holmes who was brought down as he played the ball into Ben's path. The referee played the advantage, and Reeves smashed the ball home from outside the penalty area, to double the score.

In the 25th minute Lee Holmes was unable to continue after taking that knock and he was replaced by Jordace Holder-Spooner.

Within a minute Holder-Spooner benefitted from good work from Sam Hoskins as he was on hand to stroke the ball home to make the score 3-0.

Two minutes before the interval Alex Chamberlain picked up a loose ball and raced goalwards before drawing the keeper and slotting the ball home.

The second half started with Saints U-21's winning a penalty. Paul Wotton stepped to take it and smashed a fierce shot goalwards but it was saved brilliantly by Nike's keeper, who turned it away for a corner.

From the resulting corner from Reeves Wotton was able to make up for his miss by heading firmly home. 5-0.

Two more goals in the next four minutes were scored as Saints kept applying the pressure.

Chamberlain smashed a 30 yard effort home when there appeared little danger and caught the keeper out. Then Holder-Spooner gathered a cross and juggled the ball before slotting home at the far post.

Reeves came close to netting his third when hitting the crossbar and as the game petered out the visitors netted a late consolation.

The Team Coach Martin Hunter was delighted with the performance that his side had produced.

The side Nike played was a side of released Premier League players and the kids did a complete number on them.

Martin Hunter said after the game that he was pleased with 75% of the game but admitted that the last quarter was not good enough as the young team took their foot of the gas and became less ruthless.

Overall though he was more than pleased with what he saw.

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