YOUNG AMMIES BOW OUT OF FA YOUTH CUP

Under-18s coach Gary Sampson has set out the challenge his players must face up to after a disappointing FA Youth Cup exit.

The young Ammies were beaten 3-0 by Accrington Stanley under the Peninsula Stadium floodlights, with a second half brace scored by Anjola Popoola contributing significantly.

Accrington took the lead in the first half when Jake Young headed in a corner at the back post, with Brad Padovani coming close to equalising a couple of minutes later but his shot went over the bar. Harley Lawton should have doubled Accrington’s advantage shortly after as he cut back onto his right foot after being played through, but he missed the target and was nearly made to pay for it after the half hour mark, but Kamoy McNair sent his shot over after similarly cutting in off the left.

Salford came closest to scoring when Padovani hit the outside of the post after Brad Mundy slipped a pass into him on the left, then Mundy created a chance for himself with a neat turn at the top of the box but his effort was straight at Oliver Riva. The visitors then hit the woodwork when another quality Kelly corner took a touch in the area and hit the inside of the far post before Isaac Jackson-Peat caught the loose ball.

After the break Accrington looked determined to build on their lead, and in the 56th minute won a penalty that Popoola calmly converted low through the middle.

Chances were at a premium, and Kyrell Malcolm forged one of the only ones for Salford with a solo run down the left, but his shot was blocked for a corner. A couple of minutes later the contest was settled when Popoola received a cut back from the left, and shifted the ball to his left before unleashing a powerful effort across Jackson-Peat into the far corner. Malcolm had a late chance after Harry Showman slipped a pass for him down the left, but again his attempt was blocked.

Reflecting on the evening, Sampson said:

“[It was a] disappointing performance and result, we have to accept that we probably didn’t play at our best tonight.

“We were up against an Accrington team that have got some really good individuals and big, strong, physical, players with good game understanding. We found it difficult to cope with them so a difficult evening for us, but there’s definitely learning and development to take from it.

“Playing here, it’s giving the players that exposure, we want these lads to become professional footballers in the game and if we can get them nights like this we can give them that exposure to what being a professional football life is all about, playing some evening games under the lights with a bit of pressure.

“The bigger picture is that that’s what these nights are about and some of the boys stood up to that, some of them need a bit more development within themselves to perform under those circumstances.

“We can take away the need to put in a level of performance and a need for consistency, whether you’re playing in the Youth Cup or a Saturday at Partington, can you maintain a level of performance and work on your own individual targets throughout the week and in games.

“There’ll be no change from us, we’ll keep them on task with that, keep them on their learning plans, and hopefully try to keep pushing these lads from now until Christmas, then the end of the season, and keep trying to push them towards the B-team.

“Some of them have got to try and push to get a consistent level of performance in the 18s first, then if they do that day-in, day-out, they’re always knocking on the B-team’s door with Danny. He sees them on the grass quite regularly so that’s the next port of call for them really, if they can break into that B-team and be involved day-to-day with the B-team, they’ll then get more exposure playing B-team football which is a step up from what they’re used to.”