Our under-18s were narrowly defeated 1-0 away to Ipswich Town in the U18 Premier League South.
In the game in Suffolk, Matthew Compton had the Tractor Boys in front within the opening minutes of the first 45.
Despite plenty of chances and the large majority of possession, we were unable to find a way back into the tie.
What happened
We were behind early after a free-kick was given away in a dangerous area for Bobby Sains to roll into Compton, who fired an effort goalward and took a heavy deflection to beat Remi Lupinski.
The push for an equaliser began through Alex Marciniak, who provided a series of inswingers, first for Louis Zecevic John to try his luck with, before Saurap Sampang saw his shot blocked from close range.
It was then Mishel Nduka’s turn to benefit from a Maricniak cross, with another good ball delivered to the far post that could only be directed over Town’s upright. The Wales under-17’s international then played a neat backheeled pass into Zecevic John, but his shot was straight at Joshua Bentley.
Our best chance of the opening half-hour arrived through a forced error on Bentley, who misplaced his pass for Zecevic John to pounce upon and pick out Nduka, but the Ipswich goalkeeper recovered well to parry behind.
We continued our attempts to fight back after the interval, as Maalik Hashi almost finished off a delightful link-up play between Nduka and Marciniak through the middle of the park.
Substitute Kyran Thompson looked to spark the breakthrough with a neat ball into Zecevic John, but Ipswich’s no.1 was quick off his line to close down the shot and force the ball clear.
We came agonisingly close to getting back level late on, via a counter-attack that began with Marciniak. The playmaker found Thompson free on the left flank, who picked out Zecevic John inside the six-yard box, but again the chance was placed wide of the target and came as our last opportunity of the affair.
What’s next
Our under-18s continue their U18 Premier League South campaign with a trip to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, March 17.
Kick-off at Palm Training Ground is scheduled for 1pm (UK time).
LINE Ups
Ipswich Town XI: Bentley, Hammond, Berkeley-Agyepong, Duggins (Ness 67), Wilkinson, Sains, Adetiba (Pedder 55), Compton, Ladegbaye, Eze, Nicolaou (Wreford 78).
Subs not used: Take it easy, Boakye-King.
Arsenal XI: Lupinski, Stachow, Murisa, Owusu-Gyasi (Pedro 61), Mbala, Nwaneri, Sampang (B.Phillips 61), Hashi, Nduka (Thompson 61), Marciniak (Purdy 82), Zecevic John.
Subs not used: C.Phillips.
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