Albion’s development squad went down 4-1 to Swansea City at the Amex, in the Under-21 Professional Development League...
Both teams content on playing the passing game, adapted from their respective senior side, and it was the home side who had the first shot on goal; Kazenga LuaLua won the ball wide on the left and squared the ball to Solomon March, but his save was well stopped by Dave Cornell.
But the visitors took the lead after 16 minutes when Rodgers was dispossessed in his own half by Kurtis March. The Swans midfielder dropped his shoulder to get past Mat McGiveron and fired the ball into the bottom left corner from 18 yards.
It got worse for Luke Williams’s side in the 21st minute when midfielder Lee Lucas double the Swans lead in fine fashion, when he curled a free-kick into the top left corner from 25 yards. Albion keeper Dan East got a hand to it but he could do nothing to stop the ball making the net bulge.
The Seagulls could have pulled a goal back immediately when Torbjorn Agdestein jinked his way into the Swansea box, but the Norwegian dragged his left-footed shot wide.
LuaLua also riffled a shot at the Swansea goal which was beat away by a scrambling Cornell, while the Seagulls also had a great penalty shout turned down by referee Neil Wallace when March was sent tumbling by Kyle Bartley.
Senior winger LuaLua had more of an influence during the second half and put the Swans defence on the back foot as he ran at pace, and he asked more questions on Sornell with his famous long-rang shots.
At the other end, Swansea midfielder Josh Sheehan saw a volley whistled past East’s left post, and Agdestein brilliant created space for himself in the visitors’ box, but his half-volley was well saved again by Cornell.
But just past the hour the Welsh side add a third. Experienced striker Danny Graham ran at the Albion defence on the right side of the area and his shot on goal was well saved by East, but the ball bounced to the head of Rory Donnelly who was presented with the easiest of finishes with his head.
Then the visitors added a fourth late on through Graham. Donnelly dispossessed McGiveron on the edge of the Albion box before squaring the ball to the former Watford striker to side-foot the ball home.
But there was time for an Albion consolation. LuaLua was the architect down the left and he picked out Anton Rodgers 12 yards out, who took one touch and volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner.
Albion: (4-3-3) East; Akubuine, Jones (Barry 84), McGiveron, Sampayo; Rodgers, Richards, LuaLua; Goodwin (Cousins 76), Agdestein, March (Peake 76). Subs not used: Smith (GK).
Original article
Both teams content on playing the passing game, adapted from their respective senior side, and it was the home side who had the first shot on goal; Kazenga LuaLua won the ball wide on the left and squared the ball to Solomon March, but his save was well stopped by Dave Cornell.
But the visitors took the lead after 16 minutes when Rodgers was dispossessed in his own half by Kurtis March. The Swans midfielder dropped his shoulder to get past Mat McGiveron and fired the ball into the bottom left corner from 18 yards.
It got worse for Luke Williams’s side in the 21st minute when midfielder Lee Lucas double the Swans lead in fine fashion, when he curled a free-kick into the top left corner from 25 yards. Albion keeper Dan East got a hand to it but he could do nothing to stop the ball making the net bulge.
The Seagulls could have pulled a goal back immediately when Torbjorn Agdestein jinked his way into the Swansea box, but the Norwegian dragged his left-footed shot wide.
LuaLua also riffled a shot at the Swansea goal which was beat away by a scrambling Cornell, while the Seagulls also had a great penalty shout turned down by referee Neil Wallace when March was sent tumbling by Kyle Bartley.
Senior winger LuaLua had more of an influence during the second half and put the Swans defence on the back foot as he ran at pace, and he asked more questions on Sornell with his famous long-rang shots.
At the other end, Swansea midfielder Josh Sheehan saw a volley whistled past East’s left post, and Agdestein brilliant created space for himself in the visitors’ box, but his half-volley was well saved again by Cornell.
But just past the hour the Welsh side add a third. Experienced striker Danny Graham ran at the Albion defence on the right side of the area and his shot on goal was well saved by East, but the ball bounced to the head of Rory Donnelly who was presented with the easiest of finishes with his head.
Then the visitors added a fourth late on through Graham. Donnelly dispossessed McGiveron on the edge of the Albion box before squaring the ball to the former Watford striker to side-foot the ball home.
But there was time for an Albion consolation. LuaLua was the architect down the left and he picked out Anton Rodgers 12 yards out, who took one touch and volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner.
Albion: (4-3-3) East; Akubuine, Jones (Barry 84), McGiveron, Sampayo; Rodgers, Richards, LuaLua; Goodwin (Cousins 76), Agdestein, March (Peake 76). Subs not used: Smith (GK).
Original article