The games having been coming thick and fast for Wanderers’ U18s group who have been in
fine form so far this season.
Following a pre-season run in, which saw Wanderers win all five of their warm-up fixtures, the
young Whites endured a run of wins to start the season in good stead.
League victories against Stockport County and Walsall were also followed up by a cup win against
Wrexham at Colliers Park and a draw away to last season Youth Alliance champions, Preston
North End. Those results cemented a solid foundation for Julian Darby’s side to build upon.
Accrington Stanley were the next side to visit Lostock with striker Daeshon Lawrence giving
Wanderers the lead at the break. A quick fire start to the second-half saw midfielder Harry Leigh
add a second for the young Whites with Lawrence turning provider this time.
Harley Irwin soon made it 3-0 when only a minute after the second he latched onto Conor Lewis’ corner at the back post. Full-back Oliver Smith went on a mazy run down the right with an outstretched foot catching him as he made his way into the area.
Striker David Abimbola, who was named on the bench for Wanderers’ First Team in Tuesday’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy tie against Aston Villa U21’s, continued his prolific start to the season to convert from 12-yards to give Darby’s side the three points.
Back to Youth Alliance Cup action, Morecambe make the trip to The Eddie Davies Academy
and a quick start allowed Harrison Rice to plant his strike into the bottom corner. The
wing-back’s goal was the only difference between the sides on the day, with the Wanderers
defence playing pivotal to give the young Whites a first victory in the competition.
Floodlit Cup action saw a first outing of the season for the U17s with many U16s featuring for
long-time academy coach Danny Clarke’s side. A slight wobble for Wanderers allowed Salford
to take the lead. However, goals from Latrell Lewis and Toby Ritchie completed a first-half
comeback for Clarke’s young side. An end-to-end second-half allowed Corey Thomas to add a
third to seal the win in the Floodlit Cup, a competition Wanderers will hope to go far in this
season.
A trip down the M61 to Bamber Bridge’s Sir Tom Finney stadium saw a tough test awaiting
against a strong Blackpool side. An even first-half saw neither side able to break the deadlock at
the interval. Toby Ritchie’s cross on the stroke of the final whistle slipped through the hands of
Blackpool’s Crowe to give Wanderers a well deserved three points after a series of missed big
chances in the second-half.
Blackpool were the opponents once again only 3 days later when they visited Lostock, this time
in the Youth Alliance Cup. First year scholar Corey Thomas netted his first competitive goal of
the season after some great work from Abimbola left Thomas with a simple finish from close
range.
Wanderers went into the break with a narrow lead and two changes at the break meant
Lawrence and Ritchie were introduced. Instant impact from Daeshon Lawrence allowed him to
double the lead after he got on the end of Rice’s cross. Rice and Lawrence would combine
again only two minutes later when Lawrence picked out the bottom corner whilst under pressure.
A Blackpool fight back saw the visitors pull two back in the 65th and 71st minute to leave a
nervy finish for Darby’s side. Some excellent saves from goalkeeper Luke Lomax and some key last
ditch tackles meant Wanderers held on for a vital three points in the Youth Alliance Cup.
Wanderers had won every League match so far before the visit of Wrexham to Lostock. The
home side proved a tough test after Wanderers had beaten the Welsh outfit 4-3 in the Premier League Cup back in August.
Conor Lewis and Daeshon Lawrence both found the back of the net in a
2-2 draw seeing the points shared leaving Wanderers U18s sat second in the table level on
points with league leaders Lincoln City - with the young Whites having a game in hand on the
Imps.
The matches continued to come thick and fast for the young Whites with Crewe making the
journey to Lostock this time in the Premier League Cup. David Abimbola and Harrison Rice’s
first-half goals were enough to see a second victory in the competition following a win
against Wrexham earlier in the season.
A trip to Cumbria saw a very young Wanderers side, due to first team call up and absences,
take on Carlisle United at Creightons RFC in another Youth Alliance Cup tie. Toby Ritchie fired
Wanderers ahead when Harry Leigh won the ball at the edge of the Carlisle United penalty area
and picked out Ritchie who converted from the centre of the 18-yard box.
Corey Thomas won a penalty as the half-time whilst approached, he stepped up to take it and converted hard and low from the spot to double the young Whites' lead before the break. The second-half saw Wanderers only two substitutes, Corey Nuttall and Latrell Lewis, both introduced. Nuttall added Wanderers a third with Lewis getting the assist.
Lewis’ touch down allowed Nuttall to run at the Carlisle defence and a low strike nestled into the bottom corner. Lewis also saw himself get on the scoresheet as full-time approached when his strike from the edge of the box flew into the far corner to seal a great win for the whites.
All four goalscorers were first-year scholars in what was a very young Wanderers side on a wet afternoon in tough conditions.
Julian Darby’s side are in cup action again on Saturday 12th October when they play host to Bradford City.