County cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Carlisle United at Stockport Sports Village on Saturday, as a Keane Barugh brace, accompanied with a Lee Williams strike, handed the young Hatters victory in the EFL Youth Alliance North West Division.
Williams had the chance to give County the lead early in the game. A flicked-on pass by Kylan Depeiaza found the forward, and his venomous strike hit the side netting.
The visitors came forward for the first time in the game, where a number of passes through the middle found the striker on the edge of the area, but his strike was deflected well over the bar.
A storming run down the right by Pijus Otegbayo nearly resulted in a goal. His cross rolled across the face of goal and could’ve found the bottom corner, if not for a vital intervention from the goalkeeper.
County took a well-deserved lead soon afterwards. Depeiaza and Williams used their strength to hold off the defenders, as they challenged for a high ball, and Barugh reacted first to race through on goal and thump a strike into the far corner.
HALF-TIME: County 1-0 Carlisle United
Looking to start the second period as they ended the first, Williams could’ve doubled County’s lead. Another great run from Otegbayo resulted in a floated cross, where Williams was waiting, but the forward couldn’t direct his header goalwards.
Barugh nearly scored a wonderful solo effort. The winger picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove at the Carlisle defence. Beating numerous defenders, he struck with his left foot, but his effort was just wide of the target.
Otegbayo was causing all kinds of problems down the right and set up County’s second. A fantastic piece of skill from the right-back opened up space inside the box, where he played the ball to Williams. The forward’s curling strike beat the goalkeeper and found the top corner.
County were on top and looking for more. Barugh back-heeled the ball to Otegbayo, and his cross found Depeiaza, but his goalbound effort was blocked.
Barugh beat his man on the right with a great bit of skill, twisting and turning inside the box, and he fired a cross into Che Gardner. The substitute couldn’t sort out his feet, and his close range effort went over the bar.
County rounded off a perfect performance with a third. Freddie Redshaw found space to get a cross into the box, where Barugh was waiting to volley an effort into the far corner, and grab his second of the game.
FULL-TIME: County 3-0 Carlisle United
County XI: Trialist; Otegbayo, Partington, Kenny (Capt.), Watson, Redshaw; Atkinson, Fligg, Barugh; Williams, Depeiaza.
