U18s Report: Blackburn 3 City 3

The Foxes started the match well, particularly after being forced into a late change as a result of an injury in the warm-up – Simonas Stankevicius and Daniel Rowe both testing the Rovers ‘keeper in the early stages.

However Trevor Peake’s side found themselves facing a two-goal deficit as their failure to deal with balls coming into the box proved to be their undoing in the first half.

There was a good response from the Foxes though, and after some excellent play down the left from Eddy Samba, Reiss Awuah was brought down inside the box, allowing Luke Downes to convert from the spot for 2-1.

After the break, England Under-16 forward Layton Ndukwu made his youth team debut, and along with some incisive play from Rowe and Matty Miles, helped swing the momentum back in City’s favour.

It was Rowe who grabbed the equaliser with an assured finished past the goalkeeper after having broken clear of the Blackburn defence, and could have put the Foxes ahead shortly afterwards when his free kick rattled the crossbar.

But against the run of play, Blackburn snatched a late 3-2 lead when the City didn’t clear from a ball into the box, allowing the home side an easy finish from close range.  

Peake’s side showed real character though, and they managed to force a thoroughly deserved equaliser in stoppage time when Herve Pepe-N’goma got on the end of a free kick to fire home and make it 3-3.