CHECK IT OUT
All the action from the Checkatrade Trophy second round
SOL Campbell’s first game in charge of Macclesfield Town ended in heartbreak as his side crashed out on penalties against Newcastle United U21s.
Elias Sorensen gave hosts Newcastle the lead on 23 minutes, but the Silkmen dug in and got back on terms in the second round clash when Scott Wilson lifted the ball over keeper Nathan Harker with six minutes left.
That took the tie to penalties and it was the Magpies who came out on top, winning 5-3 after Macc’s Ben Stephens saw his penalty saved.
A rueful Campbell said: “The lads worked their socks off and it’s quite hard to take because we had some really good chances.
“We just needed to be a bit more clinical.
“However, the players took on board how I wanted them to play and there were lots of positives.”
There was also opening night disappointment for new Notts County manager Neal Ardley as the Magpies went down to a 2-0 defeat at
Sunderland. A Dan Jones own goal gave the Black Cats a first half lead and Jerome Sinclair wrapped up the victory with a second half penalty.
Ardley said: “We won’t play a side that good again this season and I saw signs of the things we’ve been working on to give us the best chance of winning games.” Ardley’s former club AFC
Wimbledon also exited the competition, losing 2-1 at Chelsea U21s. Charlie Brown (pen) and Daishawn Redan gave the Blues a twogoal lead before Anthony Wordsworth pulled one back with just over 20 minutes left.
Experience
Wordsworth’s night took a turn for the worse with three minutes left when he was sent off for a late challenge.
First-team coach Simon Bassey was still in charge of the Dons, but new boss Wally Downes joined him on the touchline to offer his experience in the second-half. Meanwhile, new Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts got off to a fine start as his side ran out 2-1 victors against
Walsall. Goals from Doug Loft and Alex Gilliead gave the Shrews a two-goal cushion before Kieron Morris replied for the Saddlers.
“It was a real good performance with some real quality and plenty of hunger and desire, which pleases me more than anything,” said Ricketts.
Holders Lincoln’s hopes of retaining the trophy went up in smoke when they lost 4-2 on penalties at Accrington Stanley following a 2-2 draw.
The Imps led twice through Matt Green and sub Jamie McCombe, but Stanley responded through Scott Brown and sub Jordan Clark.
Lincoln were left ruing a penalty miss by Matt Rhead when they led 2-1 in normal time, Stanley keeper Jonny Maxted thwarting him.
Maxted then proved the hero in the shoot-out, saving twice as Stanley won through to the last 16.
Cristian Montano scored twice as Port Vale ran out convincing winners in their derby against Stoke U21s, though the game was marred by vandalism by visiting fans. Tom Pope and Luke
Hannant also scored for Vale in front of almost 8,000 fans.
Barnsley bowed out on penalties after a 3-3 thriller against Manchester City
U21s. Victor Adeboyejo, Jordan Williams and Liam Lindsay netted for the Tykes, but Rabbi Matondo and Ian Poveda (two) netted for the Citizens, who triumphed 5-3 in the shoot-out. League One pacesetters Portsmouth knocked out Arsenal U21s 2-1 at Fratton Park. After Brett Pitman’s tenth-minute opener for Pompey had been cancelled out by Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka on 66 minutes, Andre Green fired into the roof of the net with seven minutes
left to net the winner.
Peterborough ran out 2-0 winners at Exeter to ease through, Ivan Toney and Jason Cummings doing the damage in the second half.
Bury won 1-0 at Mansfield in an all-League Two clash, Dom Telford scoring the vital goal on 35 minutes. The Shakers had Stephen Dawson sent off late on and also saw Caolan Lavery’s penalty saved by Stags keeper Conrad Logan, but they held on.
Three more ties were decided on penalties – Cheltenham versus Newport, Cambridge against Northampton and Luton
versus Southend. Padraig Amond gave Newforward port the lead at Cheltenham, but the hosts hit back through Alex Addai to take it to penalties. Cheltenham then kept their nerve to win 7-6 in the shoot-out. George Maris’ ninth-minute goal looked as though it was going to be enough to earn managerless Cambridge United a place in the third round, but there was a late sting in the tail.
Drama
Kevin van Veen equalised for Northampton in the 89th minute and the Cobblers then ran out 4-2 winners on penalties.
There was also late drama in the clash between Luton and Southend. Luton looked to be on their way when Arthur Read netted his first senior goal with a 20-yard cracker on 81 minutes.
However, the Shrimpers drew level with two minutes to go through sub Stephen McLaughlin’s deflected effort. Southend then won 4-2 on penalties.
Bristol Rovers averted the need for penalties in their tie at Swansea U21s by scoring an 89th minute winner.
The Swans opened the scoring courtesy of Jordan Garrett in the 54th minute, but Tony Craig headed home the equaliser four minutes later. Sub Alex Jakubiak then surged and left defenders trailing in his wake before coolly slotting home the winner.
Each winner picked u p £20,000 in prize money.
There are two more second round ties still to be played – Rochdale host Oldham on Tuesday evening and Oxford entertain Tottenham U21s on Tuesday, December 18.