Youth, Reserves and Ladies 2014-15

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

 2 - 0 Joe Cole.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Benteke substituted after 63 minutes.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

3-0 Benteke replacement, Strain taps in

[villasjf]

3 0 ft

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

From the O/S
Christian Benteke got a solid hour under his belt as he continued his return from injury today.

Benteke was named in the U21s team for their clash with Bolton at Bodymoor Heath.

And the fab forward played just over 60 minutes in the 3-0 win - scoring one goal in the process.

Benteke bagged a penalty - the opener - on 33 minutes after Trotters defender Andy Hughes handled in the box.

Joe Cole hit the second on 56 minutes - a wondrous shot which gave the keeper no chance.

And the scoring was completed on 83 minutes when Thomas Strain tapped home a rebound after Jack Grealish's initial shot was saved.

It was a very strong side named by Gordon Cowans - as Benteke, Grealish, Jores Okore and Shay Given all played.

Okore, like Benteke, is on his way back from injury after missing a large proportion of the 2013-14 campaign with a knee injury.

Cole is also enjoying a renaissance return, after coming back into training last week following struggles with a thigh problem.

Grealish and Given were both handed minutes on the pitch after spending time on the bench with the seniors.

Overall it was a very good afternoon with a solid victory for the claret and blues.

[PeterWithesShin]

Christian Benteke scored on his long-awaited return from injury as Villa secured their first league win of the Barclays U21 Premier League season at Bodymoor Heath.

As well as the Belgian international, Gordon Cowans named Shay Given, Jores Okore, Joe Cole and Jack Grealish in his starting XI and their experience told as the claret and blues dictated play from start to finish.

They carved out their first opportunity after just four minutes when Riccardo Calder headed wide from right-back Tom Leggett's right wing cross.

With his trademark runs, winger Grealish shone throughout and began to link-up well with Benteke.

The home side took the lead through Benteke's calm penalty after Bolton's Andy Hughes handled in the box.

Grealish almost doubled the lead moments later when his rasping shot crashed off the crossbar after a fine individual run - something he carried out throughout the 90 minutes.

Summer signing Cole played the full 90 minutes and his range of passing unnerved the Trotters' backline and the 32-year-old was unfortunate to see a couple of efforts drift wide of the post.

He didn't have to wait long to get on the scoresheet, though, when just shy of the hour, he picked up a loose ball after Bolton had failed to clear and curled his shot into the top left hand corner leaving Ross Fitzsimmons rooted to the spot.

The visitors were presented with a glorious opportunity to reduce the deficit when Henry Cowans' trip in the area saw referee Gareth Mellor award a penalty but Zach Clough could only blaze his shot over the bar from 12 yards.

With 13 minutes remaining, Grealish danced his way past a number of white shirted defenders - found Cole free on the edge of the penalty area but the former Chelsea man's first-time volley sailed just over the bar.

Substitute Strain put the icing on the cake when he tapped home from close-range after Fitzsimmons could only parry Grealish's cross.

VILLA U21: Given, Leggett, Wildin, Cowans, Okore, Toner (Webb 76), Sellars, Calder, Benteke (T Strain 63), Cole, Grealish. Unused subs: Watkins, Crooks, Abdo.

BOLTON U21: Fitzsimmons, Maher, Perry (Campbell-Young 57), Finney, Taylor, Hughes, Clayton (Lester 72), Vela, Illiev (Woolery 57), Clough, Hall. Unused subs: Sellers, Campbell.

[fredm]

Can any U-21 watchers work out what the formation was pleased? Did Grealish play behind CB and in front of a 4 or did we have a midfield diamond?

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Game played behind closed doors. But tweet mentioned Greaslish and Benteke playing up-front.

[berneboy]

Chelsea Under-18s came from two goals down to secure an astonishing 12-2 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday morning.

Oh, dear.

[OCD]

I guess if you go around hoovering up the best young talent so that you might one day get a sizeable loan fee each year, these things can happen.

[Toronto Villa]

We battered Arsenal a few seasons back also. Means nothing to most fans if those players don't make it to the next level. Apparently our kids also won the Youth CL too.

[PeterWithesShin]

[Legion]

Bristol Rovers U-13s 0 Aston Villa U-13s 4 with a hat-trick from Cam.

[PeterWithesShin]

FT: West Brom U21 4-1 Villa U21. Three quick-fire second half goals for the hosts turned the game on its head.

[Legion]

Manchester United U-13s 4 Aston Villa U-13s 3 (Cam with 2 goals)