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McGeehan stars in Under-18s win (March 17, 2008) Folkestone Invicta 1 City Under-18s 5
A commanding team performance saw City beat a strong Folkestone Invicta side. Settling into a good pattern of play from the start, they pressed forward down the slope and put Folkestone under early pressure but found themselves a goal down after fifteen minutes when loose play in centre midfield saw Folkestone breakaway down the right and although driven wide, the winger's low crossshot flew across keeper Mike Magrino into the far corner of the City goal.
Folkestone`s lead was short lived, with City equalising within a minute when City forced a corner which was cleared but fell to Daniel Mannings whose fiercely struck shot from 30 yards flew into the top corner. City then dominated play and took the lead in the 27th minute when Jack Winder cut inside his fullback and laid a pass to the edge of the penalty area where Mannings challenge on the defending player saw him win the ball to fire under the advancing 'keeper.
With City`s back four of Westgarth, Johnstone, Small and Brockman in superb form, restricting Folkestone's forward opportunities, City`smidfield were linking well with the forwards and a good lay off by Aaron Campbell released Winder who cut the ball back from the byeline for Mannings to complete a hat-trick in fifteen minutes.
City continued to press and went close to extending the lead several times before the a fourth goal was scored five minutes from half-time. This came when Jamie Maxted`s inswinging corner was dropped by the Folkestone 'keeper and Troy Smiison, who had an outstanding game in midfield, was on hand to drive home the loose ball from six yards
The second half saw Folkestone, with the slope to their advantage, put City under early pressure but good defending and the safe hands of the ever alert Magrino snuffed out any attacks and City kept charge of the game and with Calum McGeehan spraying the ball around the pitch, only over elaboration prevented them from greatly extending their lead. However, they did add a fifth goal on seventy minutes with the move of the match. McGeehan picked the ball up on the edge of his own penalty area and strode out to play a crossfield pass to sub Michael Turner just inside the Folkestone half wide on the right. His ball down the right channel to Mannings was instantly squared across the edge of the penalty area for McGeehan whose box to box run finished with a low left foot shot from a move he started.
With such a commmanding lead City rang the changes, bringing on further subs Rob Paton and James Turner who was through on goal very quickly but shot narrowly wide. McGeehan forced a fine save out of the Folestone 'keeper in the closing stages Click here to return to the News page
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