Big Guns Progress In Vertu Trophy Round Of 16

15/01/2025 13:57 Share

Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and defending champions Peterborough United have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Vertu Trophy after the competition resumed with the first batch of ties in the Round of 16.

With the competition still running to a regionalised format, three matches took place in both the Northern and Southern Section, with the ties between Port Vale and Wrexham, and Leyton Orient and Stevenage the only two still to be played.

Two-time winners Bolton Wanderers moved closer to a return to Wembley Stadium with victory on the road against fellow League One outfit Lincoln City.

Jack Moylan went close early on for the home side but it was Bolton who ultimately grabbed the decisive goal after 22 minutes when Aaron Collins took full advantage of some chaotic defending to slide in his 13^th goal of the season.

Reeco Hackett thought he had drawn the home side level only to see his effort flagged as offside, with Lincoln creating plenty of chances but failing to find a way past Bolton ‘keeper Luke Southward.

Rotherham United, another team to have won the trophy twice in the past, secured their place in the next round in the only tie of the night that went all the way to penalties.

League Two outfit Chesterfield put in a brave performance to hold their League One visitors to a goalless draw, with spot kicks required to determine who would progress to the next stage.

Both sides missed an effort but after Darren Oldaker fired Chesterfield’s fifth effort over the bar, Cameron Humphrey’s slotted in the winner to put Rotherham into the next round.

Having made it to the semi-final stage last season, Bradford City remain in contention for the title this time around having seen off the final Academy team in the competition.

Bradford headed to Birmingham to take on Aston Villa U21 and went ahead when Calum Kavanagh – Player of the Round for the last 32 – nodded in the opening goal.

Jack Shepherd doubled the lead before 15 minutes had been played and although Villa pulled one back thanks to a fine effort from Kyrie Pierre, a third Bradford goal before the break from Callum Johnson wrapped up a 3-1 win.

The League Two affair between Cheltenham Town and Colchester United saw the home side take an early lead when Tom Pett took advantage of an error from visiting ‘keeper Matt Macey to opening the scoring.

Macey made amends with an assist for Lyle Taylor just before the break but the home side secured their place in the next round in stoppage time when George Miller was able to find the net from close range after a corner.

There was also late drama at the County Ground as Swindon Town played host to League One leaders Birmingham City, who took the lead thanks to Ayumu Yokoyama in the second half.

Despite having more of the ball and the better chances, Birmingham were pegged back by the home side when Harry Smith nodded in an equaliser, but he would go from hero to zero in the final minute with an own goal that saw Swindon slide out of the competition.

Peterborough United meanwhile remain on course to defend the title they won in dramatic fashion last season after a comfortable home win against Walsall.

Gustav Lindgren and Malik Mothersille netted in the opening 15 minutes before the League Two leaders pulled one back through Daniel Johnson, but Peterborough’s two scorers both doubled up to put their side out of reach – even though Walsall pulled another goal back right at the death thanks to Josh Gordon.