U18s: Southampton 2-3 Aston Villa

Bradley Burrowes bagged an injury-time winner as Aston Villa twice came from behind to claim a 3-2 victory at Southampton in the Under-18 Premier League South on Saturday.

Sufianu Sillah Dibaga fired Saints ahead early on at Staplewood, a lead the hosts held at the interval before Mason Cotcher drew Villa level early in the second half.

Sillah Dibaga restored Southampton’s lead in the 57^th minute, only for substitute Elijah Briscoe to once again pull the Young Lions level moments later.

And it was left for Burrowes to snatch victory for the Villans in added time, ensuring Jimmy Shan’s side have now taken seven points from their opening three league fixtures of the campaign.

Teddie Bloomfield went close early on for Villa while a combination of brave goalkeeping from Sam Proctor and a goal-line clearance from TJ Carroll denied Saints at the other end.

But the visitors fell behind in the 12^th minute as Proctor saved from Nicholas Oyekunle but the rebound fell into the path of Sillah Dibaga and he converted from close range.

Burrowes headed at Saints ‘keeper Khiani Shombe in response, while Proctor saved well with his legs to thwart Hansel Adjei-Afriyie at the other end.

Proctor subsequently pushed Korban McMullan’s free-kick away to safety and saved well from Sillah Dibaga as Saints held a slender advantage at the break.

Yet it did not last long as Burrowes went close for Villa before Cotcher levelled matters with a left-footed finish in the 49^th minute.

Southampton retook the lead when Sillah Dibaga found the top corner with a well-taken finish from just inside the area.

But the encounter was level again just four minutes later as sub Briscoe converted from Bloomfield’s ball into the danger area.

Both sides battled to find a winner throughout the second half and it was Villa who claimed the spoils in the 92^nd minute, Burrowes latching on to Cotcher’s quickly-taken free-kick before racing through and slotting home.