Academy Manager Steve Avory was full of praise for the young Addicks after their 6-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the U17 Premier League Cup made it two wins out of two in the competition.
Facing off against a Category One Academy team provided the Addicks, managed by Hamza Serrar, with a tough test, but his side put in a performance Avory was pleased with.
He said: “What pleased me particularly in the first-half was that we came from being behind to take the lead at half-time.
“We had to try and make sure that we came out in the second-half and didn’t concede anything silly and get beaten by some of their clever play, but we carried on our good attacking play and our threat in the second half.
“The pleasing side of it I think was that we didn’t concede any goals, we did add to it, and it became a convincing victory in the end.”
The victory continued an excellent run of form the U17s have enjoyed recently, following on from the 1-0 win against Fulham in the opening game of the competition alongside big victories for the U18s against Bristol City and Millwall in the league, and Avory praised the young Addicks’ attacking play in particular.
“That was three on the bounce where we’ve scored six goals so you’re realistic, you know that can’t go on and on and on but what it does show is that this team is full of an attacking threat, and we’ve proved that with the number of goals we have scored.
“There’s great confidence throughout the squad, and so they should have confidence because they can see that attacking threat themselves, we have plenty of pace in the team and I think what we’re getting quite nicely balanced at the moment is the decision making between when to build and be patient and open up teams with a sequence of passes and when to counter and really be clinical in our progress down the pitch in two or three passes to finish as well.”
The Addicks have since beaten Worthing in the FA Youth Cup, click here to read the full report and watch Serrar’s post-match reaction below.
The U17s final group game of the Premier League Cup is at home to Arsenal on Tuesday, November 23rd. The Addicks need a point to qualify to the next round.
Article by Gregg Baxter