Development side win 2-0
United’s Development Side won their first game of the season today with an excellent 2-0 win at AFC Bournemouth. The Development Side, which consists of players aged under 21, were worthy winners in a well-contested game decided by goals from Ty Marsh and Josh Ruffels.
United welcomed defender Sam Long back for the first time this season after the centre-half damaged ankle ligaments in pre-season. He came through 70 minutes on his comeback in a defence that also saw Matt Bevans, Kenzer Lee and David Lynn in front of Max Crocombe. The midfield trio of Josh Ashby, Ruffels and Aidan Hawtin worked tirelessly while front three Josh Shama, Marsh and Callum O’Dowda looked lively all game.
United took the lead early in the game. Marsh saw a 6th minute penalty saved but from the resulting corner was on hand to make it 1-0. The young U’s then doubled their lead before the break when Ruffels fired home a free kick to make it 2-0 at half time.
Both sides created chances in the second period but United saw the game through to win for the first time and leave Mickey Lewis delighted with the performance:
“It was really good stuff” he told www.oufc.co.uk. “The performances have been good so far and things have been coming together nicely. Today all the lads worked very hard, there was some solid defending when it was needed and there were plenty of encouraging signs. Bournemouth had five or six players who have played in their first team so it was a difficult game but every one of the lads should feel pleased with the way they played.”
United
Crocombe, Bevans, Lee, Long (Grant 70), Lynn, Ashby, Hawtin, Ruffels, Shama (Humphreys 85), Marsh (Roberts 75)