U18 Report: Aston Villa 0-4 Saints

Saints raced into a two-goal lead early on after a pair of well-taken goals from a Trialist striker and Princewill Ehibhatiomhan.

Their control of the contest continue after half time and they added to their lead when the Trialist netted his second before Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez added his name to the scoresheet.

Saints hit their stride early on when good play from Gomes Rodriguez and Thierry Rohart-Brown saw the former played into a crossing position on the right, with his low ball into the area finished well on the turn by Trialist.

Saints began on the front foot. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)

Villa looked to hit back when Trae-varn Mulley hit the side-netting after bursting towards goal, but Saints duly made the hosts pay for their miss by doubling the lead on 14 minutes.

Ehibhatiomhan stayed alive to a loose ball in the Villa area before rounding goalkeeper Sam Lewis and squeezing the ball in from a narrow angle.

Saints were enjoying the best of the first half action and the Trialist almost claimed his second of the afternoon when he seized upon an under-hit backpass and stabbed goalwards, but Lewis smothered the effort well.

At the other end, Dylan Moody hadn't been worked up to that stage but was alert when called on to deny home striker Mulley, who saw his shot well charged down.

Into the second period, Saints looked to make full use of the control they had as Ehibhatiomhan went inches away from a stunning third goal, but his swerving strike cannoned back off the far post.

It was soon 3-0 though as the positive play continued with a move down the left involving Ehibhatiomhan and Aston Daley.

The pair produced a chance for the Trialist, who duly rolled home his second of the afternoon just before the hour mark.

With no relenting in the standard of the play from Saints, a fourth then arrived when Gomes Rodriguez headed home a rebound from his own blocked shot, just minutes after seeing a previous effort hit the post.

Gomes Rodriguez added the fourth goal.

Villa had an opportunity to reduce the deficit late on when Cole Brannigan went close, and Saints could have had a fifth themselves when Nick Oyekunle placed a shot wide.

The three points return to Hampshire as Calum McFarlane's side end their four-game run without a win in the Under-18s Premier League.

Saints are next in action on Saturday 13th April when they host Crystal Palace in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick-off set for 12pm.

Aston Villa: Lewis, McWilliams (Lott 64), Asante-Boakye (Moreland 65), Carroll, Timson, Quinn, Brannigan, Edwards, Mulley (Burgess 89), Hemmings (75), Fortes.

Subs not used: Hammond.

Saints: Moody, Williams (Okonola-Matthews 64), Dobson-Ventura (c), Fry, Sesay (Sheaf 45), Miles, Gomes Rodriguez (64), Rohart-Brown, Trialist (Oyekunle 64), Daley, Ehibhatiomhan.

Subs not used: Upstell.

Goals: Trialist 4, 55, Ehibhatiomhan 14, Gomes Rodriguez 61.

Yellow Cards: Miles.