Youth team set up well for second-leg

A good result from the youth team last night to gain a 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, leaving them in a good position for the return in two weeks time - although they will be disappointed to have let a lead slip.

A decent crowd of over 11,000 saw the game last night taking advantage of the free entry and the club would be hoping for a decent attendance in the return game given the lack of TV coverage for the game, and in particular the attention the Academy has had over the past eighteen months or so.

Lost amongst the Abramovich millions has been the effort Chelsea have put in the past few years in trying to develop their own Academy and become more 'self-sufficient' and by reaching this stage of the competition proves a degree of vindication for that claim.

Reports from the game:

The Guardian, MEN, BlueView, MCFC official site, Chelsea official site.