Max Dowman scored a hat-trick as our under-18s made it four wins in a row with a 5-3 victory away to Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Marciniak opened the scoring for Adam Birchall’s side, but it was Dowman who swung the tide of the game, netting two excellent solo goals and a penalty having set up Marciniak's opener.
Leicester piled the pressure on in the final 15 minutes, but a late goal from Brando Bailey-Joseph settled any nerves.
What Happened
Much like our victory over Leicester a few weeks ago, the game started brightly, with Luqman Aideed and Alex Marciniak coming close for their respective sides.
We made the breakthrough in the 17th minute when Max Dowman played a smart pass to pick out Marciniak who converted from close range.
Our lead didn’t last long however, as Josh King rose highest to head home from a corner just five minutes after we’d opened the scoring.
But before the game could settle down again, Dowman took matters into his own hands, driving to the edge of the penalty area and placing a precise finish into the corner.
The tempo dropped for the remainder of the first half, allowing us to take the lead into half-time.
Ten minutes after the break Dowman topped his first half goal with an even better individual goal, running from the halfway line before slotting the ball into the corner.
The Foxes got themselves back in the game just seven minutes later through Lorenzo Strachan, but less than a minute after the restart, Dowman completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
We were pegged back once again with 15 minutes to go when Louis Page curled an effort in from distance, but the pressure eased after a late red card for Leicester’s Will Daniels.
Brando Bailey-Joseph scored our fifth from close range in stoppage time to wrap up another high-scoring victory for our young Gunners.
What it Means
Victory in the East Midlands moves us up to fifth in the U18 Premier League South, level on points with Aston Villa in fourth.
What’s Next
Our under-18s take on Norwich City at Sobha Realty Training Centre next Saturday, April 12.
Kick-off in North London is scheduled for 12pm (UK time).
Line-Ups
Leicester XI: McNab, Adedeji, Diallo, Daniels, Khela, Strachan (Owusu, 71’), Page, Aideed (Omobolaji, 79’), Akolbire (Motsi, 80’), Hutchinson, King
Subs (not used): Donohue, Jacklin
Arsenal XI: Porter, King (Ogunnaike, 73’), Ismail, Chapman, Ibrahim, Hashi, Bailey-Joseph, Murisa, Dowman, Marciniak (O’Neill, 60’), Zecevic-John
Subs (not used): Talbot, Onyekachukwu, Kuczynski
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