Match Report – Co. Londonderry 0 v 2 Southampton

Jul 30, 2014 | Junior Section

Local side County Londonderry were unable to stop Southampton from claiming their third win of the tournament. The English Premier League academy side dominated the play and were well worth their two-nil win.

The County side were hard-working throughout but failed to match the clinical edge shown by their opponents.

Southampton went into the game full of confidence having won their first two games, scoring 6 goals in the process.

Meanwhile for local side county Londonderry, they had picked up just one point and also went down by two goals to Co. Antrim.

Southampton had the best of the opening exchanges. The imposing stature of striker Dan N’Lundulu was a constant threat. He was responsible for the game’s first shot, Siph Mdlalose found space on the left side and sent a teasing cross into the box, N’Lundulu stabbed his right foot at the ball but sent his shot over the cross-bar.

Southampton were dominating and on fifteen minutes they made notched their first goal.

Again good interchanges from N’Lundulu and Mdlalose created the opportunity for the former, he beared down on goal with the goal-keeper fast approaching, but he showed the composure to lift the ball over Tiarnan Hargan in the Londonderry goal.

Londonderry came into the game more as half-time approached. Left-back Paddy Quigg was their stand out player, he fed the ball to Sam McDermott, the midfielder struck a tane effort just wide of the Southampton goal, his side’s first goal-mouth chance.

Southampton hit back after this scare and were unlucky not to extend their lead. Midfield anchor-man Thomas O’Connor demonstrated his superb range of passing throughout the half. He fed the ball through to Mdlalose on numerous occasions, just before the interval, he latched onto the ball and poked it towards goal but Hargan saved well.

The second-half was a much more tame affair. Southampton were well worth their lead and remained comfortably in control of the game.

The first goal-mouth attempt of the half was a long time in coming. Londonderry full-back Michael Brown sent in wonderful curled free-kick from 30 yards out, Noel Doherty rose well but sent his header just over.

Southampton woke up after this scare and notched their second goal of the game. The impressive O’Connor was again involved, he found space on the half-way line, strode into the opponents’ half and played a low, curled pass for substitute Liam Rhoden to run on to, he caught up with the ball and applied an immaculate finish as he sent the ball into the bottom right-hand side of the goal.

The team from England saw out the remainder of the game with ease and notched their third win of the tournament.

Southampton : Adam Parkes, Steven Cairns, Oliver Gardner Javan Siu, Kristian Jukes, Jack Hilton-Hughes, Siph Mdlalose, Harlem Hale, Thomas O’Connor, Daniel McKenna, Dan N’Lundulu.

County Londonderry: Tiarnan Hargan, Michael Brown, Andrew Black, Conal Fagan Paddy Quigg, Sam McDermott, Noel Doherty, Jack McClelland, Liam Tosh, Connor Lundy, Ross McElfatrick

By John Own