Four second-half strikes helped City come from behind in a 4-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Premier League Cup at the CFA - but it wasn't enough to take us through to the competition's knockout stages.
It was a game of two halves as Sheffield United went ahead on the counter attack through Siem Abraha, despite City having multiple chances.
The second 45 was well in the Blues’ favour with Teddie Lamb finding our equaliser after he poked the ball over the line, which was followed up with a second through Dexter Oliver to send us ahead.
A flurry of last minute action saw Lamb secure a brace, before turning provider for Milo Martin’s first City goal in the 97th minute.
Despite coming out on top with a valiant second-half performance, Oliver Reiss’ side bow out of the competition on goal difference.
What happened
City returned to domestic action following the international break knowing our game against the Blades was a must win fixture.
The Blues pressured Sheffield United’s defence early on as we looked to get a foothold on the game, with Jake Wain’s deflected shot the first clinical attempt inside ten minutes.
But our own back line would soon be tested. The ball was whipped in from the near side and it was Leke Drake who rose the highest to pull off an impressive defensive header to kill the opposition’s hope of an opener.
Tyrone Samba pulled off the pass of the season as we entered the halfway mark, with the defence splitting ball using the outside of his right foot sliding through to Lamb who closed down the Blades’ goal, but we were unable to find the breakthrough.
Just as City were knocking on the door in front of goal, the opposition made a quick counter and although the angle looked to be against Abraha, he worked it well to fire the visitors ahead on 42 minutes.
We came out for the second-half with work to do if we wanted to progress into the quarter-finals, but with the leaders Crystal Palace 2-0 up at half-time there was an even greater air of urgency.
We started proceedings in the best way possible, after a scuffle between Lamb and Grainger in the box, the City talisman bundled the ball over the line on 63 minutes and we finally found our equaliser.
It was game on now as City went ahead through Oliver just moments later, but there was still a long way to go.
A flurry of action at the death saw a late Lamb goal as he secured a brace thanks to a Timeo Whisker assist. Lamb then turned provider as he supplied Martin’ first City goal as we added a fourth and final goal in the closing stages.
But it wouldn’t be enough to see us through to the next round of the competition after Palace beat Chelsea 3-0 to stop our progression.
Teams
CITY XI | Vickery, Wain, Courtman (Obin), Drake (C), Tevenan, Holt, Midwood (Whisker 82’), Parker (Martin 82’), Lamb, Oliver, T. Samba
SUBS | Hudson, F. Samba
SHEFFIELD UNITED XI | Grainger, Colechin, Tawodzera, Roberts (Hay 61’), Hough (C), Barrett-Underwood, Makhalira, Reid (Morrison 86’), Bulmer (Adams), Sidibe (Coulbrough 81’) Abraha
SUBS | Venner
As a result
The third and final game of our Group D campaign saw us bow out of the competition on goal difference.
City came into the game on four points from our first two games but behind Crystal Palace on goals scored.
After a 3-3 draw away at Palace in our opening game, the City youngsters then beat Chelsea 3-2 at home last time out.
Up next
We return to U18 Premier League North action as we host Nottingham Forest at the City Football Academy.
Kick-off against the Midlands outfit is set for 11:00 (UK) on Saturday 29 November.
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