Chelsea’s under-18s ran out 3-2 winners over Blackpool in the FA Youth Cup in a classic cup tie.
Frantic Opening 15
There was a host of young stars on display with Harvey Vale, who was on the bench for Chelsea’s first team Champions League match midweek, Charlie Webster and Lewis Hall all starting for the Blues.
Backed by a great number of travelling fans, who had stayed overnight after Blackpool’s first team faced QPR the night before. It was Blackpool who took an early lead, when winger Darren Francis collected the ball on the halfway line and raced down to right hand side unopposed and expertly delivered a low cross where striker Jake Daniels cleverly met it with a dink over keeper Prince Adegoke. In front of the loud travelling fans the young Blackpool stars lapped up their support after taking a surprise lead.
Chelsea soon settled into the game, dictating a lot of the ball and looked extremely comfortable in possession. It took just 15 minutes for Chelsea to equalise. Captain Harvey Vale provided a moment of pure genius. Right-back Derrick Abu, who was a constant menace with his over lapping runs, was found out wide right and cut it back to the edge of the box to Vale who instinctively took one touch onto his left and curled a wonderful strike into the top left hand corner.
Vale continued to look head and shoulders above the rest in the first half and showed it with a clever backheeled flick to set Abu flying down the right and create another opening for Chelsea. Vale turned provider just before the 25th minute. Abu involved again as he delivered from deep into striker Malik Mothersille who cleverly flicked it back to Vale who unselfishly squared to Silko Thomas unmarked eight yards out only to see his teammate miss the target with a poor strike.
Despite Chelsea’s control of the ball, Blackpool were still very much in the tie. They nearly caught Chelsea out with winger Joe Strawn slipped in through the middle of the defence one on one, thankfully for the Blues Adegoke saved well with his feet.
Five minutes before half-time Chelsea got their lead. Mothersille needed three goes at it but wasn’t to be denied after having his point blank header and follow up saved by some brilliant goalkeeping from Alan MacLachlan, but the keeper was unable to deny Mothersille on the third attempt.
Chelsea took a deserved lead into the break. The Blues had control in the match with Hall and Webster in midfield showing why they are so highly rated, both midfielders were often completely unfazed by pressure and would turn effortlessly out of trouble and keep the ball for Chelsea.
Blackpool Continue To Fight
The start of the second half had Blackpool calling the shots. With Arnold Matshazi, the hero of the last round for Blackpool, played in behind the Chelsea defence on 55, it was Adegoke once again to the rescue saving with his feet.
Just before the hour mark Blackpool found themselves on level terms. A bursting run from central midfielder Luke Mariette saw him venture into the box down the left before cutting it back across goal were central defender Luke Bradley-Morgan could do nothing but turn the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear his lines.
Play resumed back to its first-half ways with Chelsea regaining control of the ball and pressing once again for the lead. They were given a golden chance in the 69th minute when once again Vale played a brilliant backheeled flick into Abu overlapping in the box and Will Squires could do nothing but bring his man down to award Chelsea a penalty.
Charlie Webster stepped up after some delay and fired into the bottom right-hand corner, instantly running to the noisy travelling fans and put his finger to his lips causing the Blackpool faithful to be louder than before.
Chelsea had Adegoke to thank one last time in the 86th minute with what was the best save of the night. Jake Daniels was played into the box down the right hand side and fired a rocket that looked destined for the bottom left. Adegoke full stretched down to his right produced a top save that he also managed to palm away for a corner.
With the game deep into injury time, Blackpool right back Jack Moore was given his marching orders for a second yellow card. A tough night for the young defender who looked distraught as the ref produced the red card and with that the referee blew for full time.
The Blues will face either Blackburn or Nottingham Forest’s under-18s in the next round.
