We got off to a very quick start, Jude Soonsup-Bell finding the net in the opneing minute on the South Coast but we had to defend for much of the half after that. Our efforts couldn’t stop Brighton scoring and they drew level shortly before the break.
A much better second-half showing saw the Blues control the game but lack the finishing touches displayed in the first minute. Soonsup-Bell went close to adding a second, as did Alfie Gilchrist soon after, but a point was the fair result on the opening day of the season.
The young Blues
Ed Brand’s first challenge of the season was picking an 11 to continue the strong form shown by his side last season. We started with a back-line of boys who played some Under-18s football last campaign, Luke Badley-Morgan being the only new scholar in defence. New boys Jimi Tauriainen and Edwin Andersson both appeared in Chelsea blue for the first time, while Soonsup-Bell led the line from the start.
Quick off the mark
As the men prepare to take on Brighton’s senior team on Monday evening, the Under-18s were at the training centre to open their season and it didn’t take long until the fruits of pre-season labour began to show.
Chelsea looked bright from the first kick and inside the first 60 seconds we were rewarded for the quick start. Harvey Vale picked up the ball in midfield and threaded a perfect pass through the Brighton back-line, which Soonsup-Bell picked up and fired into the bottom corner beyond the home keeper. It was an excellent start for the boys and one that took most by surprise.
Mounting pressure
The early goal proved a wake-up call for Brighton and our goalkeeper, Lucas Bergstrom, was called into action for the first time, responding well to the attack by spreading himself to make the save after rushing off his line.
His team-mates soon had their goalkeeper to thank again. With their height, Brighton posed a threat from set-pieces and Bergstrom was forced into a magnificent save low to his left from Ben Jackson’s towering header.
The pressure on Bergstrom’s goal was mounting as Brighton searched for a way back into the game. After 20 minutes of action, the Finn got a strong right hand to a dangerous-looking low cross but the ball only reached as far as midfielder Odell Offiah on the edge of the box, his arrowing shot rebounded off the bar and away from danger luckily for Chelsea.
Equalising blow
Chelsea chances were limited but as our hosts failed to make their chances pay, our lead remained a slender one. Xavier Simons tried his luck with a well-struck volley following a Vale corner but Fynn Talley got strong hands behind the shot.
As half-time approached, Brighton eventually found the net and it was a goal the Blues will be disappointed to have conceded. A low ball in from the left was turned in by winger Jack Leahy who was unmarked in the box and that brought an end to the action of the first half.
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