An early strike from our attacking right-back, Genesis Antwi, put us in front at Villa’s training ground with a well-taken goal. However, the hosts quickly responded - with Cole Brannigan finding the equaliser before the break - to see things level at half-time.

In the second period, we showed resilience. A brilliant moment from schoolboy Chizaram Ezenwata, who was fouled inside the box, earned us a penalty. Our young striker stepped up confidently and converted, putting us back in the lead.

Chelsea held firm until the final whistle, securing all three points in a hard-fought victory. The win lifted us into third place in the Under-18 Premier League South table, marking our eighth league win of the 2024/25 campaign.

Building towards a breakthrough

Our away fixture began with both teams feeling each other out at a steady pace. Chelsea showed early promise, particularly through Leo Cardoso’s dynamic runs down the flank. After his appearance for the Under-21s the night before against Manchester City, our winger used his pace to slip past his marker and deliver dangerous crosses into the penalty area.

Aston Villa quickly responded with their own counter-attacks. Their striker, Brannigan, surged into the box, looking poised for a clear goal-scoring opportunity. However, our tall schoolboy defender, Dante Waite, read the situation well, cutting across to close down Brannigan and snuff out the threat before it could reach our goalkeeper, Jack Austin.

For a while, the game settled into a quieter phase, with neither team creating clear-cut chances. That was until Genesis Antwi provided the breakthrough.

His third goal of the season came after a well-timed press, with Antwi bursting forward and weaving through Villa's defence. A simple one-two with Walter Nutter allowed Antwi to break free and as he entered the box, he struck confidently to send the ball into the bottom corner past Sam Proctor.

Back level

Villa, however, weren't disheartened and quickly pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Austin was called into action, making a bold diving save to deny Keilan Quinn’s curling free-kick.

The Blues quickly responded, with Cardoso linking up well with winger Yahya Idrissi. The Moroccan unleashed a powerful effort from close range but Proctor was up to the task, making a strong save to keep the hosts in the game.

As the first half drew to a close, Villa found their goal. Teddie Bloomfield lofted the ball into the box, and though Wheeler-Henry attempted to intercept, he could only flick the ball away. Brannigan pounced on the loose ball, controlled it and fired a low shot that bounced off the inside of the post and into the net. The sides were level at 1-1 as the whistle blew for the break.

After the restart, both teams came out with renewed aggression, eager to take the lead. Chelsea were forced into some early defending as Villa pressed forward.

Once again, Idrissi displayed his quick feet, making a clever run upfield. He played a through ball to Ezenwata, who attempted a chipped finish from close range. Despite the power and spin, the ball sailed just over the crossbar - an early warning that we were determined to find the winner.

Moments later, Cardoso tried his luck from distance with a looping effort at goal, but Proctor did well to come off his line and smother the ball.

At the other end, Villa’s goalscorer Brannigan nearly added to his tally. He weaved his way into the box, setting up a one-on-one chance, but Austin stood tall, confidently saving the striker's effort and continuing his commanding performance throughout the match.

Well-worked ending

Chelsea continued to apply pressure, and it finally paid off when Ezenwata was awarded a penalty after showcasing his skillful dribbling inside the area. Villa’s Burgess struggled to contain him and tripped the forward, prompting the referee to point to the spot without hesitation.

Our striker stepped up confidently, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. His low shot struck the inside of the post before rolling into the back of the net.

As we took control of the game, Villa fought hard to mount a late comeback, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t break through our collective defence. We held firm, giving everything to protect our lead. When the final whistle blew, the relief was evident as we celebrated a vital 2-1 win.

What's next

Our Blues continue our Under-18s Premier League campaign with another away trip to the West Midlands, facing West Bromwich on Saturday 8 March, with a midday kick-off.

Supporters around the world can stay up to date with the Under-18s by following the upcoming fixture through our live stream, available on the official Chelsea website and app. To access the stream, visit the homepage on either platform shortly before kick-off and ensure you are signed into your members' account beforehand.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Jack Austin; Joseph Wheeler-Henry, Dante Waite, Jacob Hall, Genesis Antwi (c); Reggie Watson, Leo Cardoso (Olutayo Subuloye 76), Walter Nutter; Reggie Walsh, Yahya Idrissi (Joel Philbert 85), Chizaram Ezenwata
Unused subs: Hudson Sands, Trey Faromo-Adebayo, Hezekiah Grimwade
Scorers: Antwi 27, Ezenwata (P) 72
Booked: Wheeler-Henry 31, Ezenwata 36, Walsh 65, Austin 87

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Sam Proctor, Junior Wilson (Jack McGrath 66), Teddie Bloomfield, Max Jenner (Markie Meade 76), Tj Carroll, Leon Routh, Keilan Quinn, Alfie Lynskey (Max Lott 90), Cole Brannigan, Woody Burgess, Trai-Varn Mulley
Unused subs: Calum Moreland, Owen Asemota
Scorer: Brannigan 41