U18s highlights | Hendon 2-1 Arsenal | Video | News
Our under-18s were beaten 2-1 by Hendon in a pre-season friendly at Silver Jubilee Park on Tuesday night.
Goals from Kai Brosnan and Joe White put the home side 2-0 up in the first half before Bless Akolbire pulled one back for us.
We came close to an opening goal early on when Akolbire went around Hendon goalkeeper Luke Campbell before his shot was blocked by a covering defender. White then put one over the bar at the other end.
Hendon took the lead in the 18th minute when Niko Muir squared the ball for Brosnan, who tapped in from eight yards out. It was 2-0 moments later as White lobbed Jack Porter from just inside our half.
We responded when Porter sent a brilliant ball over the top to Marley Frohock on the left. It came to Akolbire on the right, who cut inside onto his left foot and curled the ball into the far corner.
Cam'ron Ismail made a vital tackle with Muir on the edge of the six-yard box, poking the ball out for a corner.
A flurry of chances fell tow Dan Casey courtesy of Louie Copley in a two-minute spell, but Campbell made some good saves. The Hendon goalkeeper got down well to hold onto a 20-yard strike from Zac Shuaib late in the first half.
Into the second 45, Hendon looked more lively with a few half chances for Brosnan, before Campbell made a brilliant, fingertip save to deny Reece Clairmont, who had cut in on his left foot and drove into the penalty area before shooting towards the top corner.
Daniel Oyetunde darted through on goal and forced another good save from Campbell as we hunted a second-half equaliser, before Ceadach O'Neill saw an effort cleared off of the line by Ethan Light.
Hendon: Campbell, Gidaree, Adenola, Riley-Snow, Light, Diedhiou, Lucien, Sole, White, Muir, Brosnan.
Arsenal XI: Porter, Sampang (Gyasi 67), Salmon (Onyekachukwu (67), Sweet (Ogunnaike 67), Ismail, Shuaib (Ibrahim 67), Akolbire (Murisa 67), Copley (Marciniak 67), Clairmont (Oyetunde 67), Casey (O’Neill 67), Frohock (Annous 67).
Substitutes (not used): Talbot.
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