Our young Blues were looking to return to the summit of the Under-18 Premier League southern section after their 100 per cent start to the campaign with a win against winless Southampton.

Sloppy start

The Saints started the game with a point to prove and inside the first minute striker Will Merry was through on goal, but the young striker delayed his effort, allowing Brodi Hughes the chance to divert his shot wide.

However, the resulting corner dropped fortuitously to captain Jem Hewlett, who prodded home to give the hosts a very early lead. This was the first goal Ed Brand’s side had conceded this season after clean sheets in the first two games.

Total control

Following the goal, we controlled the possession without threatening too much. Leo Castledine went closest for our young Blues in the first 15 minutes with a free-kick which just went over.

As the half wore on, we were camped in Southampton's half as Lewis Hall and Tyrique George both had chances to level the scores.

The gilt-edged opportunity fell to captain Castledine who had a free header in the six-yard-area but the in-form midfielder who was starting his second game up-front headed wide.

Just before the end of the half Acheampong had an effort from distance which looked to be heading for the corner of the net, but keeper Eric Hanbury was on hand to save well.

A major incident occurred early in the second period of the game as a good piece of skill from substitute Tyler Dibling allowed him to beat his man Alex Stepien-Iwumene, who tugged his opponent down which resulted him receiving a second booking.

The second half was being played solely in the home team’s half as we were dominating and trying to take advantage of the extra man advantage.

Castledine headed in from an Ato Ampah cross, but it was ruled out by a marginal offside decision. Hall was next to try his luck smashing a right-footed shot goalwards, but it was saved well by Hanbury.

Against the run of play

With our lack of conviction, the young Saints’ first foray led to their second goal of the game as a cross into the box was finished on the slide by Brandon Charles. Totally against the run of play.

Hanbury made a fantastic save with his feet to deny Dibling a goal against his former side as it was looking like it would not be our young Blues’ day.

With just over 10 minutes left in the game, a scramble in the box from a corner dropped to Acheampong who swivelled and shot to halve our deficit. Somto Boniface almost grabbed the equaliser with a shot that got deflected over the bar.

One minute from time, Ampah used his trickery to beat his man and cut in from the left side and unleashed a powerful shot that found the bottom left corner of the net. We pushed for a winner but to no avail as both sides had to settle for a point.

Chelsea(4-3-3) Ted Curd; Brodie Hughes, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Josh Acheampong, Somto Boniface; Kiano Dyer, Michael Golding (Tyler Dibling 46), Sam Rak-Sakyi (Louis Flower 76); Leo Castledine (c), Tyrique George (Ato Ampah 46), Lewis Hall (Zain Silcott-Duberry 71)
Unusedsubs Max Merrick
Scorers Acheampong 78; Ampah 89
Booked Flower 90+2

Southampton(4-4-2) Eric Hanbury; Sonnie Davis, Joshua Lett, Nathanael Boot, Jem Hewlett (c), Josh Squires (Harvey Woods 90+1), Rylee Wright (Tommy-Lee Higgs 76), Alex Stepien-Iwumene, Will Merry, Brandon Charles, Samuel Amo-Ameyaw (Ryan Chavez-Munoz h/t)
Unusedsubs Tommy Dobson-Ventura, Adli Mohamed
Scorers Hewlett 2; Brandon Charles 66
Booked Stepien-Iwumene 38; Charles 77
Sent off Stepien-Iwumene 55