Great Day for Tomi

By The Kid
February 27 2006

The Academy had a good win against bottom of the table Crystal Palace at Cobham on Saturday running out 2-0 winners. There was a first goal in Chelsea Blue for 17year old Finnish youngster and Academy first year scholar, Tomi Saarelma.

Jimmy Smith opened the scoring for the Academy midway through the first-half from a 25 yard free-kick and ten minutes later came Saarelma's goal when Sam Hutchinson quickly took a free-kick and found Tomi unmarked in the area who then turned and scored at the near post.

Coach Rodgers said "This was another good performance in difficult conditions, it was very windy, to continue our good run. We had chances to score more goals. Crystal Palace were better than their League position showed, in particular in the first-half. But once we got the goals our good team work controlled the game."

Rodgers gave debuts to Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods. Football Icon winner Sam Hurrell started his fifth game for the Academy before being substituted by Jack Watkins.

This was the Academy's third victory in a row and their third without conceding a goal.

Team (4-2-1-3) Russell; Hutchinson, Worley, Cork (c), Bertrand; Bridcutt, Taiwo (Woods); J Smith; Saarelma (Furman), Cummings, Hurrell (Watkins).

40 YEARS BLUE !

COME ON CHELSEA!