There’s no doubt January has been a good month for Braiden Graham (main picture). On Friday night at a wintery Stevenage FC, home to Spurs Under 21s, he took this month’s goal tally to 5 and scored his 12th
of what is becoming an epic season for the talented 18 year old Northern Irishman.
With the recent loan departures of Will Tamen and Roman Dixon, the Blues were grateful to call on Reece Welch and also nominated him as captain for the night. Martin Sherif, recently returned from a loan spell at Rotherham, again led the line. Missing were regulars Eli Campbell and Jack Patterson. The former certainly is a likely departure this month before the transfer window closes.
In horrible playing conditions with torrential rain and a swirling wind, the play from both sides was initially a little disjointed. The first action of note was an unbelievable refereeing decision.
As Sherif was breaking clear, he’d got the wrong side of the last Spurs defender Arganese-McDermott, he was hauled back 20 yards from goal. The nearest covering defender was a good yard behind Sherif and yet the referee somehow decided on a yellow card for Arganese-McDermott, not a straight red! Callum Bates shot narrowly over the bar from the free-kick but it was a bizarre passage of play.
Graham and Sherif both went close and Olayiwola produced a good save from the Spurs ‘keeper. As Blues’ pressure mounted, a minute later, Welch missed horribly from 2 yards out after Olayiwola fired across the goal.
Just when it looked like the Blues were destined to be out of luck, Omari Benjamin played a fine ball centrally for Graham to beat the offside trap and fire confidently home, 1-0 (see below).
Welch did make amends for his earlier miss with a fine last-ditch tackle in his own penalty area and very soon afterwards the Blues got their second and what a good goal!
Substitute Kingsford Boakye played a through ball intended for Omari Benjamin. Thankfully, he realised there was a likelihood of him being called offside and he let the onrushing and clearly onside Graham take the ball through and produce an immaculate chip over the home goalkeeper. It was a perfect demonstration of the self-belief he clearly has, 2-0 (see below).
Spurs did hit the bar from 20 yards with George Pickford beaten but the Blues deserved the 3 points. Their endeavour, exemplified by the fine efforts of full backs Josh Van Schoor and Odin Samuels-Smith, was the deciding factor. The goal-den touch however, is owned by one man alone, Braiden Graham.
This win followed on from the 3-2 home victory last Sunday against Manchester City.
The opening goal in that match by the afore-mentioned Van Schoor showed that he has a useful right foot as well as his stronger left (see below):
Graham had scored the Blues’ second (no footage) before Martin Sherif got in on the action. After he was upended following a strong run, he converted the spot-kick expertly
In other Youth news this week, Luis Gardner (pictured below) signed his first professional terms with the club, lasting until the summer of 2028. He’s most recently converted to a centre back position having started at the Blues as a midfielder. Injury-wise he has suffered of late, but the confidence that the Blues have now shown in him speaks volumes about his talent, good luck Luis!
Next up for the Blues teams are an Under 18 game away at Stoke on Saturday morning and the u21s are away at Arsenal on February 6th.
