U21s Report: Matlock Town 0 City 4

Two late goals from the impressive pairing of Simonas Stankevicius and Joe Dodoo rounded off the third straight win of a pre-season that has seen City score nine goals without reply. 

Picking up from where they left off against Corby at the weekend, Beaglehole’s side began on the front foot against their non-league opponents, with big striker Blyth having the first clear cut effort – a right foot drive from the angle that whistled wide. 

The Foxes were encouraged though, and continued to press forward - Jack Barmbey and Harry Panayiotou both creating openings with moments of individual skill - but to no avail. 

In the 18th minute City’s Alie Sesay stayed up from a corner and did well to reach Barmby’s cross, only to head over. His bravery cost him however, as he took a nasty looking blow to the head and was replaced by Meadows. 

With the lion’s share of possession, City continued to knock on the door – Ryan Watson getting forward well and clipping the crossbar with a long range effort – but it wasn’t until the 32nd minute that the breakthrough finally arrived. 

A well worked corner routine on City’s left saw Cain deliver a pinpoint cross to the far post where Meadows had got himself free and into the perfect position to guide a cushioned header home. 

Matlock rallied briefly with Niall Dawkins threatening from range as the half rumbled on, but in truth the Foxes were well in control and looking to push for another goal themselves. 

After the break Matlock tightened up a bit, but it still wasn’t enough to stop the irresistible Foxes, who stormed into a 2-0 lead just before the hour mark. 

The lively Barmby had Matlock left back Joe Leesley isolated in the corner, forcing him into an error that gifted Blyth a shooting chance that he wasn’t going the waste – firing emphatically into the far corner on his right foot from 12 yards. 

City continued to dominate the possession stakes, but Jon Kennedy in the Matlock goal didn’t have too much to deal with in terms of shots, as Barmby’s mazy run ended with a left foot shot that was dragged a foot wide of the post. 

Dodoo’s pace on the right flank was a constant threat for City, and on a rare foray forward for Matlock, he very nearly used it to great effect with a lightning counter. 

Substitute Stankevicius picked the ball up on the edge of the box and was quick to pick out the winger with an excellent pass. Dodoo beat his man, shifted it onto his right and delivered a powerful low shot that the ‘keeper did very well to save. 

The result was finally put beyond any doubt in the 83rd minute and it was the lively Stankevicius who showed his quality in the process, as from 25 yards out he blasted an unstoppable right-footed shot past a rooted goalkeeper. 

Just three minutes later the Foxes added a fourth for good measure – Dodoo seeing his deflected shot bobble in – ensuring a third straight win and clean sheet of pre-season. 

MATLOCK TOWN: Kennedy, Freeman, Leesley, Meade, Haggerty, Radford, Dawkins (62), Stokes, Osbourne (Gregory 65), Hewitt, White (Snodin 56) 

SUBS NOT USED: Leese 

CITY: Smith (Maddison 46); Miles (McCourt 46), Sesay (Meadows 24), Kennedy, Pepe-Ngoma; Dodoo, Watson, Cain, Barmby (Rowe 70); Panayiotou (Stankevicius 66); Blyth 

GOALS: Meadows 32, Blyth 59, Stankevicius 83, Dodoo 86