MIDWEEK MARVELS
A full round-up of the latest night of Leasing.com Trophy action
ACADEMY sides were put to the sword as their Football League seniors flexed their muscles in the latest round of Leasing.com Trophy group stage matches.
One of the matches of the night came at Cheltenham, who ran out 4-3 winners against West Ham
U21s in Southern Group E. Jonte Smith proved to be the Robins’ main man, netting a hat-trick.
Two goals from Dan Kemp and one from Bernardo Rosa helped give the visiting Hammers a 3-1 lead at the break, Smith notching his first for Cheltenham.
However, the League Two high-flyers raised their game in the second half. Smith went on to complete his treble with goals on 55 and 64 minutes, while George Lloyd bagged the 67th-minute winner.
Cheltenham boss Michael Duff said: “We knew we’d get opportunities if we did things properly and we could have scored quite a few more in the second half, so I’m pleased overall.” Also in Group E, Exeter put themselves in pole position by making it two wins from two with a 2-0 success at fellow League Two outfit Newport. Matt Jay scored in each half as the Grecians eased to victory.
In Northern Group D, Shrewsbury ran out convincing 3-0 victors at home against Newcastle
U21s. Fejiri Okenabirhie (22 mins), Jason Cummings (33) and Dave Edwards (87) all got on the scoresheet as the Shrews took the spoils.
“I’m really pleased with the win,” said Shrews manager Sam Ricketts. “I thought there were some really excellent performances.”
Port Vale have already qualified from the group, while Shrewsbury will host Macclesfield in the final round of group games next month to see who joins them in the last 32.
Qualifiers
Tranmere came from behind to beat Aston
Villa U21s. Cameron Archer gave Villa a second-minute lead, but Rovers replied through George Ray 12 minutes later. Connor Jennings scored Tranmere’s 78th-minute winner in the Northern Group C clash.
In a three-team group due to Bury’s EFL expulsion, Salford and Tranmere have now qualified for the knockout stages. Both clubs have beaten Villa, who bow out. Tranmere entertain Salford next month to see who tops the group. The only academy side not to fall to defeat in midweek were Tottenham U21s, who drew 1-1 at Colchester. Luke Norris gave the U’s the lead a minute before the break, but Tashan Oakley-Boothe levelled things up on 75 minutes.
Tottenham’s seniors lost a penalty shoot-out to Colchester in the Carabao Cup, but the U21s showed them how to do it with a 6-5 success to earn themselves an extra point.
In the other game in Southern Group A on the same night, Ipswich romped to a 4-0 victory against Gillingham at Portman Road in front of pop star Ed Sheeran. Emyr Huws, Jordan Roberts and Will Keane all scored, while the Blues also benefited from a Mikael Mandron own goal.
With two wins from two, Ipswich have booked their place in the knockout stages, while either Colchester (four points) or Tottenham U21s (two points) will join them.
Colchester host Ipswich in their final group game next month, while Spurs go to Gillingham.
On the same day that manager Jack Ross was sacked, Sunderland edged out Grimsby 3-2 in Northern Group A. All the drama came in the second half as the Black Cats – last season’s beaten finalists – took the victory.
Duncan Watmore (68), Marc McNulty (79) and Will Grigg (86) scored for Sunderland, while Matt Green (59) and Elliott Whitehouse (81) replied for the Mariners. Sunderland lie second in the group after their opening game, a point behind leaders Scunthorpe who have played a game more. With two defeats from two, Grimsby can’t qualify.
Holders
Forest Green and Coventry played out a goalless draw in their Southern Group D showdown. Rovers claimed an extra point by winning 8-7 on penalties.
Forest Green lead the way with five points, but
Walsall, who they visit in their final match, are breathing down their necks with four points and Coventry, with three, are still in with a shout of making it through.
Southampton U21s are out of contention.
Holders Portsmouth drew 2-2 at Oxford in Southern Group B, but then claimed an extra point by winning the resulting penalty shootout 5-4. Matty Taylor’s 21st-minute goal for the U’s was cancelled out by Pompey’s Bradley Lethbridge 12 minutes later. It looked as though Portsmouth would triumph when Anton Walkes scored in the 85th-minute, but Karl Robinson’s men took it to a shoot-out when Rob Dickie netted in injury time. With eight points from their three matches, Pompey have qualified in first position, while the U’s join them as group runners-up, even with a game to play. Norwich U21s and Crawley have been knocked out. In Southern Group C, goals from Joe Pigott (three pen), Michael Folivi (49) and Callum Reilly (79) helped AFC Wimbledon beat Leyton Orient 3-0. Dons keeper Nathan Trott saved a Dale Gorman penalty in the second half on a bad night for the O’s. Brighton U21s lead with six points, while AFC Wimbledon and Leyton Orient both have three points. Southend are yet to break their duck. In Southern Group F,
Plymouth raced to a 3-0 win at Swindon. Zak Rudden (15), Joel Grant (36) and Joe Riley (66) were on target, while Jason Cowley’s sixth-minute goal was enough for
Stevenage to take victory at Wycombe in Southern Group G – and claim their first win of the season.
Entertaining
Harry Smith scored the only goal as Northampton won 1-0 at Cambridge in Southern Group H. Accrington Stanley ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Oldham in Northern Group B with goals from Sadou Diallo (30), Offrande Zanzala (42 pen) and Jordan Clark. Oldham’s cause wasn’t helped after having Dylan Fage sent off in first half stoppage time.
Mansfield and Crewe drew 1-1 before the visitors won 4-3 on penalties in Northern Group E. Jimmy Knowles gave the Stags the lead on 18 minutes, but Oli Finney pulled Crewe level on the stroke of half-time. In Northern Group H,
Rotherham beat Doncaster 3-2 in an entertaining clash. Joe Wright (11 og), Carlton Morris (67), who also had a penalty saved by Donny keeper Ian Lawlor, and debutant Trevor Clarke (77) made up the Millers’ tally, while Kieran Sadlier (37) and Wright (54) netted for Donny.
● In League One, Bolton and Blackpool drew 0-0 on Monday night.