In the final Academy Update of 2019, the Academy brought down the curtain on a highly successful 2019 with an eight point lead at the top of the National League Under-19 Alliance albeit that Whyteleafe have three games to make up. 

In the last game before the Christmas break, the Elite squad disposed of third placed Welling United with three first half goals. A free kick from Sam Babayale was headed in by Harry Hudson to give the Angels the lead after six minutes. In the 38th minute a pass into Saul Masungeyi, who held it up well before laying it off to Jacob Lambert, who played a killer pass in between the full back and centre back for Ned Lewis to slot home. The half was wrapped up with Babayale’s free kick for Hudson to toe poke in. Manager Tom Parkinson called it after the game: “a really disciplined performance from a depleted squad. A great way to end the year.”

If Rhys Bartlett could wish for anything for his Development squad it would be that Santa Claus delivers them a package of self-belief. In their last game of the year at Bromley’s Hayes Lane they were the equals of their hosts but came away with a 2-0 defeat in a competitive game. On occasions this squad beat themselves before they start and if they had just a little more faith in their own ability they would be winning games like this one but goalkeeper Josh Watfa at least had the satisfaction of backing up his first clean sheet of the season last week with a fine penalty save.

Academy Update will return when the League resumes on 8th January 2020. We wish you all a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year.