On Thursday our youth team travelled to play Oxford United in the First Round of the FA Youth Cup and progressed through to the next stage of the competition thanks to goals from Tyrone Tucker-Dixon and Tom Mehew.
The game, which was played at Abingdon United’s ground, drew the following comments from PDP coach David Buckwell.
“I think it was our most mature performance of the season so far, in the sense that more often than not the players made excellent decisions and executed the game plan really well.
“The team are most pleased with not conceding, and rightly so, as the defensive display from the team thoroughly deserved the clean sheet.
“FA Youth Cup games are special fixtures for the club, the Academy, and, of course, the players, and it was fitting that the game was sealed with two special goals.
“The first arrived after a well worked move was defended from Oxford and Tyrone Tucker-Dixon picked the ball up wide right in the final third and cut inside, going past the left back before curling a left foot shot from 18 yards into the opposite corner on 65 minutes.”
“We then scored our second goal five minutes later when Tom Mehew received the ball on the half turn in the final third, from a well-executed pass from Sam Blake, before firing home a right foot half volley from 25 yards.”
“We were incredibly well supported by the club and that was demonstrated by the Chairman coming into the dressing room after the game and saying a few words, which really topped off a great night for the Academy.
“We have a quick turnaround before our next fixture, against AFC Bournemouth tomorrow, so it will be important to ensure we are ready, both mentally and physically, for another fixture against tough opposition but it’s a challenge we are excited about and looking forward to.”
Team: Kieran Hodges, Sam Blake, Sam Iles, Luke Russe, Sam Hedges, Jordan Carey (Tom Mehew, 67), Lewis Ellington, Connor Jones, James Spruce (Toby Rennie, 70), Tyrone Tucker-Dixon, Lucas Tomlinson (Dan Lammiman, 75)
Substitutes: Jamie Bremner, Liam Armstrong
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