Following an emphatic 4-0 victory at Blackburn on Tuesday, Academy manager Kevin Thelwell is now hoping that his youngsters can finish in the top three of a division that includes some of England's biggest clubs.
Kevin was delighted with not only the result, but the performance too. He said: "Blackburn has a very good Academy team so to go there and score four without reply was fantastic.
"The first 15 quarter of an hour was pretty evenly balanced but then we began to put them under pressure and we took the lead in the 26th minute.
"A great crossfield pass from Nathan Rooney picked out John Gorman on the wing. His first touch took him past the full-back and he drove into the area before cutting the ball back for Ashley Hemmings to score from just outside the six-yard box.
"After the break Blackburn rallied and they had two very good chances to pull level. But they didn't take them and we weathered the storm and regained the initiative.
"The second goal, on the hour mark, also came after a Gorman cross. This time it was Nathan Rooney who found the net as he arrived in the box, as he often does, and scored with a header.
"On 74 minutes Louis Harris headed in our third after a cross from Brian McGroary to effectively kill the game as a contest.
"Gorman rounded things off in the 84th minute. A corner was only half cleared and when Anthony Forde returned the ball into the box Paul McCone headed goalwards only for their keeper to make a great save.
"Unfortunately for him, he couldn't hold the ball and Gorman was there to force it home.
"Last week we were looking through all the League tables since we joined the Academy and our highest points total had been 39.
"We have 40 now and although we are in a League that contains some of the really big hitters, like the two Manchester clubs and the two Liverpool clubs, with three games remaining the target now is a top three finish."
Pictured: Jamie Reckord and Nathan Rooney look on as Louis Harris wins the chase for the ball (picture courtesy of Blackburn Rovers FC).
