Welsh
Football Young Guns update news - by Owain Jones.
Young guns news -
Sunday 27-Apr-08
Grant Basey (Charlton - defender)
Skippered the Addicks second string on Monday night as they took on Leyton
Orient. The Wales U21 international also got on the score sheet from the spot
after being moved into a midfield position as the Addicks chased the game in
which they eventually ran out 3-1 winners.
"I was thinking it might then go the wrong way
for us but we made a couple of substitutions at half-time and moved Grant Basey
into midfield where he was outstanding." Mark Kinsella, Charlton reserve team
coach
Ched Evans (Man
City/Norwich - striker) Scored another
goal for the Canaries this week, but once again his strike was not enough to
gather any points for his side. Evans was on target from the spot but his side
slipped to a 2-1 defeat to WBA at Carrow Road.
Damien Hopkins (Bradford - defender) Played at centre half as the reserves drew 0-0 with
Coventry on Monday night. Hopkins, a Wales U19 international has been a
consistent starter for the second string in the past two months and once again
got 90 minutes under his belt.
Lloyd James (Southampton - midfielder) Was once again in the thick of it on Tuesday night as the reserves drew
1-1 with QPR. James will now reach a turning point in his career after failing
to make the break through at St Marys.
Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Got an assist to his name as the reserves drew 2-2 with Shrewsbury on
Monday night. King has seen his spot with the seniors cut short this season
after the arrival of Ian Holloway, and will now look to impress the gaffer over
the summer.
KC Owen (Oldham -
striker) Scored with a superb free
kick as the Latics U18 team lost 3-2 to Wigan at the weekend. He scored during
the second half to put his side 2-0, a position in which they should have closed
out the game. It comes in a week when Wales U19 internationals
Owen and Daniel Knight (Oldham -
defender) have been told that they
would not be offered professional contracts next year. We wish both the best
for the future.
Geraint Price
(Portsmouth - defender) Started for
the reserves this week as the drew 1-1 with Reading. The Carmarthen born
defender played 46 minutes as Pompey came from behind to clinch a point.
Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City
- defender) + James Wilson (Bristol City - defender) Played their part as the second string won the Pontin's
Holidays Combination Wales & West Division Title. Both got 90 minutes as
they thrashed derby rivals Rovers 6-1 on Wednesday night.
Rhys Williams (Middlesborough -
defender) Played another fine 90
minutes as the reserves drew the final game of the season 1-1 against Man
City. The Wales U21 international was heavily involved in the action, clearing
off the line and setting up attacks as he signed off the season with an
impressive appearance.
Young guns news -
Sunday 20-Apr-08 Jack Collison (West Ham - midfielder)
Started the Premiership game against Bolton last weekend, but was taken off
after 51 minutes as the Hammers chased the game. Collison was sacrificed as the
Hammers tried to claw back a 1-0 deficit, but will hope that won't be his last
taste of senior football this season.
Steven Davey (Shrewsbury - midfielder) Played behind the front two last weekend as the young Shrews beat
Accrington Stanley in a youth team fixture. After a season out wide it seemed
that moving position did the trick with the Wales U17 international involved in
both goals as the team won 2-0.
Ched Evans (Man City/Norwich - striker) Scored in the derby against Ipswich on Sunday, but he would have given
the goal up for a win against the old rivals. Evans struck from 25 yards with
only 4 minutes gone, but his goal was not enough as the Tractor boys went on to
dominate and eventually run out 2-1 winners.
Tom Evans (Swindon - defender) Played 90 minutes as the Robins plucked the Cherries on
Monday night. The game finished 2-2, the Bournemouth XI saw a
starting spot for Wales U19 international Joe Partington (Bournemouth - midfielder).
Lloyd
James (Southampton - midfielder) Has
an impressive evening with the reserves on Tuesday night as they beat Brighton.
James was at the heart of every move, starting most attacks with a series of
fine passes. The game finished 3-1 to Southampton, but it will now be
interesting to see whether James now moves on in the summer after failing to
make the break through at St Mary's.
Andy King (Leicester - midfielder) Struck from 18 yards as the Foxes tracked down and snared the Baggies on
Wednesday night. King managed to bag his sides third and final goal as they
comfortably ran out 3-0 winners. The Baggies forward line contained
Josh Knight(WBA -
striker) who had a busy 45 minutes.
This was the second reserve game that Knight had played in under a week.
Kayne McLaggon (Southampton -
striker) Sealed his sides win with a
well taken goal as the Southampton academy finished the season with a win
against Coventry last weekend. The Saints ran out 4-0 winners, McLaggon was
joined in the squad by Ian
Jones(Southampton - defender) and Gary Preen (Southampton -
midfielder).
Ashton Taylor (Tranmere -
defender) Powered in a header for the
reserves on Wednesday night as they beat Blackpool 2-1. Taylor has been an ever
present for the second string this season, and could well look to get on the
fringes of the senior squad next season.
Rhoys Wiggins (Crystal Palace -
defender) Made his second appearance
for the reserves this week as the Eagles crashed 3-1 to Wycombe. The results
won't matter too the U21 international, but another 90 minutes on the road to
full recovery will mean a lot more.
Owain Fon Williams (Crewe - goalkeeper) Has been linked heavily with a move to Blackburn Rovers over the summer,
but the rumour doing the rounds in South Wales is that he could well join the
Roberto Martinez revolution down at the Liberty. The Wales U21 international is
out of contract in the summer and is on the look out for a new club.
James Wilson (Bristol City -
defender) And his team mates got their
hands on the Gloucestershire senior Cup on Tuesday night after beating
Cheltenham 9-1. Wilson also struck the post as the floodgates opened up in the
final.
Young guns news -
Sunday 13-Apr-08
Darcy Blake (Cardiff - defender) + Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff -
midfielder) Played their part as the
Bluebirds drew 1-1 with Ipswich on Wednesday night. Ramsey had a hand in Gavin
Rae's goal, but it was not enough to hold on to all three points as the Tractor
boys equalised in the 73rd minute.
Ched Evans (Man City/Norwich - striker) Got back to scoring ways on the weekend as Norwich beat Burnley 2-0.
The Wales U21 international scored with an opportunist strike in the 90th minute
after stepping off the bench in the second half.
Tom Evans (Swindon - defender) Continued his recover from injury with 90 minutes for the
reserves against Cheltenham on Tuesday night. In what seems to be a week for
high scoring second string fixtures, the game finished 3-3.
Oliver Hewitt-Fisher (Swansea -
striker) After missing most of the
2006-7 season with a serious cruciate ligament injury, the Wales U19
international is back amongst the goals. Two goals in recent reserve games, and
approaching 20 for the Swansea City's under 18s.
Rostyn Griffiths (Blackburn/Gretna -
midfielder) Started as the debt ridden
Scottish Premier side took on Inverness Caledonian last Saturday. Griffiths
played 90 minutes as his side slipped to another defeat, going down 2-1 to
Caley. He also got another full run out in midweek as Gretna drew 0-0 with St
Mirren.
Damian Hopkins
(Bradford - defender) Started at left
back as the Bantams entertained Stoke in a second string fixture this week.
Hopkins, a Wales U19 international, played the full duration as Bradford won
2-0.
Lloyd James (Southampton
- midfielder) Had a mixed night as the
Saints ran out winners in a high scoring reserve team fixture against Leyton
Orient on Tuesday night. The Wales U21 international had one assist to his name
when he hauled an opposing player down for a penalty during the first half. His
side eventually ran out 5-3 winners.
Daniel Knight (Oldham - defender) Was on the bench at the weekend as the Latics dealt with an injury
crisis before the clash against Swindon. The Wales U19 international was
drafted in but not used as Oldham lost 3-0 at the County Ground.
Josh Knight (WBA -
striker) Played 90 minutes as the
Baggies won 4-3 in a pulsating reserve team derby against Walsall this week.
The Swansea born front man got two assists as the Baggies scrapped past their
local rivals. The Walsall starting XI contained MarkBradley (Walsall -
midfielder).
Joe Partington (Bournemouth -
midfielder) Came off the bench with a
few minutes to go and scored his first senior goal against Swansea City last
weekend. The Wales U19 international scored with a header as the promotion
celebrations were well and truly put on hold at The Liberty.
Sanchez Watt (Arsenal -
midfielder) Stepped off the bench to
get just over half an hour under his belt as the reserves took on Spurs in a
mini derby on Monday night. The game finished 1-1. Watt also got decent game
time at the weekend, with 90 minutes for the youth in the 3-0 win over MK Dons
at the weekend.
Young guns news -
Sunday 6-Apr-08
Nicky Adams (Bury - forward) Scored the only goal of the
game as Bury beat Shrewsbury 1-0 last Saturday. The Wales U21 international
struck with a very fortuitous goal after 71 minutes as his side clung on for all
three points.
Josh Klein-Davis (Bristol Rovers - forward) Made another
early appearance for the Pirates last weekend, although the former Wales U19
international failed to get his side the break through as the game between
themselves and Yeovil finished 0-0. After struggling to make the first team for
most of the season, the former Bristol City youth team player now has a good
chance of forcing himself into the starting XI on a regular basis.
Sean Evans (Man Utd - midfielder) Returned to reserve team
action this week after being on trial at Cheltenham. The Wales qualified
midfielder got his sides only goal of the game as he slid in a rebound with only
a minute on the referees watch. His side went on to draw 1-1 with Newcastle.
The rumours of Evans having a trial at Burnley have been unfounded.
Damien Hopkins (Bradford - defender) Was back in the
starting line up as the Bantams took on the Foxes on Wednesday night in the
reserve team encounter at the Coral Windows Stadium. Hopkins played 90 minutes
as he and his fellow defenders kept a clean sheet in the 3-0 win.
Kyle Letheren (Barnsley - goalkeeper) Will be on the bench
on Sunday when the Tykes take on Cardiff at Wembley. He will also have double
reason to cheer should his team beat Cardiff and WBA beat Chelsea and make it
through, the former Swansea youth team member could be handed a start for the
final as first choice keeper Luke Steele would be ineligible to face the Baggies
as he is on loan from the Hawthorns.
Jonathan North (Watford - goalkeeper) Kept a clean sheet
as the Hornets stung Southampton in the U18 encounter last weekend. The Wales
U19 keeper was well guarded as a Southampton line up including Ian
Jones (Southampton - defender) and Kayne McLaggon (Southampton
- striker) failed to ignite.
Joe Partington (Bournemouth - midfielder) Is another Welsh
youngster gaining valuable game time with the senior side after coming on after
68 minutes in the 2-0 win against Millwall last Saturday. Partington, who is
the Wales U19 skipper has been making regular sub appearances over the past
month or so and will now hope to start a game before the end of the
season. There was also a full 90 minutes for the reserves against Plymouth on
Tuesday night for him, as they ran out 2-0 winners.
Matt Smith (Newport - defender) Has signed for Newport AFC
after being told that his future would not be at Ninian Park by boss Dave
Jones. Smith who was hailed as one for the future less than 6 months ago by
Jones, will now look forward to getting regular game time at Spytty Park.
Rhys Taylor (Chelsea - goalkeeper) Made some fine saves
when called upon as the young Blues go into the 2nd leg of the FA Youth Cup
still in it against Man City. The game finished 1-1 and the young Blues will
travel to North West in a fortnight with every chance of getting some
silverware. "We were very pleased with Rhys Taylor, when he was called into action, he
did his job very well." Gaul Kakuta, youth team coach
Sanchez Watt (Arsenal - midfielder) Scored as the Gunners
blew Cardiff U18's away last weekend. The Wales qualified youngster scored as
the game went into the last quarter with a superb lob as a very talented Arsenal
XI beat the Blue birds 6-0.
Marc Williams (Wrexham - striker) Gave his side a glimmer
of hope on Tuesday night, but it wasn't enough to earn any points against
fellow relegation battlers Mansfield. Williams followed up a parried shot to
get his sides only goal of the game as they tried to claw their way back from
2-0 down. They will need a large slice of luck if they are to have any hope of
catching Notts County.
Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough - defender) Patrolled the
back line superbly as the Boro reserves won the mini derby against Sunderland on
Tuesday night. The Wales U21 international who is second string captain, played
90 minutes as Boro ran out 4-1 winners.
James Wilson (Bristol City - defender) Played 90 minutes
as the second string dispatched Exeter City quite easily this week. Wilson was
part of the rearguard which kept a clean sheet and put his side into second
place in the Wales & West Combination League.