Youth team cup final reflections

A well deserved win in the second leg last night, and overall one which I thought was a fairly comfortable one once we had got back in the game after Chelsea's early opener.

A decent crowd in attendance - despite the shambles of trying to get in (queued for 15 mins after kick off for a ticket and they then preceeded to let everyone in for nothing) and it was a good atmosphere, one which the players certainly responded to.

We looked for the more creative side, and the front four were extremely fluid and interchangeable with their pace and movement causing the Chelsea defence and midfield continual problems. Valdimir Weiss went into the game with most of the hype surrounding him and he looks a very good prospect indeed. Playing on the left hand side mainly (his 'off wing'), he appears to have good feet, an ability to beat a man and great delivery with a look of Robert Pires about him. His free-kick was a great strike and he was a constant danger.

Skipper Ben Mee looked assured at the back whilst David Ball looks to have a good eye for goal and a selfish streak up front - easy to see why he has scored so many this season.

Another touted player - Kieran Trippier, didn't have a great deal to do to showcase his touted ability and was on the end of a shocking challenge which saw him carried off, but thankfully returned to collect his medal.

What was a great touch was the way the whole team embraced the Academy management team when the third goal went in - a real sign that the team has really grown up together over the years and this was a fitting culmination of the work that has been put in.

Obviously we have an enviable record of late in terms of developing Academy players into the first team players, and hopefully this production line should see a few more progressing through.