U18s Report: Southampton 1 Leicester City 1

- Kairo Mitchell earned the young Foxes a point after Thomas O’Connor had put the Saints ahead 

- Trevor Peake’s outfit finished seventh in the league’s first phase 

Leicester City’s Under-18s ended the first phase of their Barclays U18 Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Southampton at Staplewood training ground on Saturday. 

The young Foxes were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa last time out and were looking to end the first phase of the league’s season on a high, with a final spot in the middle four already sealed. 

Southampton meanwhile were hoping to end a run of nine consecutive U18 Premier League defeats and it was Thomas O’Connor’s strike on eight minutes that did exactly that. 

Despite the early set back, City started positively, with only a well-timed tackle from Ben Rowthorn preventing Kairo Mitchell from getting a shot off. 

Olufela Olomola and Harley Willard both went close to doubling their side’s lead, but it was Trevor Peake’s outfit that would next find the net as striker Mitchell’s effort from 18 yards found the top corner on 39 minutes. 

Midfielder Harvey Barnes then dragged an effort just wide before the break, before Southampton thought they had retaken the lead after half-time, only for Harley Willard to have his goal ruled out for offside. 

Barnes then flew down the left flank and fired over, while Kyle Gruno also sent an effort off target from deep inside the Saints box, and both sides shared the spoils. 

SOUTHAMPTON: Lewis, Langan, Hamblin, Rowthorn, Johnson, O’Connor, Lea, Willard, Thomas, Kayembe (Hale 73), Olomola (c) (N’Lundulu 67) 

SUBS NOT USED: Osborn, Mdlalose, Smallbone 

GOAL: O’Connor 8 

CITY: Yates, Percival, Kelly (c), Sherrif (Dewsbury-Hall 62), Gruno, Templeton (Pascanu 75), Fura, Hodby, Mitchell, Barnes, Eppiah (Webber 62) 

SUBS NOT USED: Keavny 

GOAL: Mitchell 39 

REFEREE: Tom Moisey