Busy Night Kicks Off Bristol Street Motors Trophy Season

Busy Night Kicks Off Bristol Street Motors Trophy Season

A busy night of action on the pitch saw the 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy get underway, with nearly 40 goals being scored across a dozen games.

The beaten finalists from last season were amongst the teams in action on a night when a number of Academy sides tasted defeat, whilst three of the games were only decided after going to penalties.

• NORTHERN SECTION:

The opening tie in Group A proved to be one of the most dramatic of the night as three late goals decided a Merseyside derby between Tranmere Rovers and Everton U21s.

After successive goalless draws in League Two, Tranmere hit the front in the first half when Josh Davison hit the back for his first goal for the club, and it looked like it could be enough to secure three points until a late flurry from the visiting side.

Big money signing Beto slotted home with four minutes left to play to equalise before the Portuguese forward put his side in front in stoppage time. An even later third from youngster Martin Sherif put the icing on the cake for the Academy side.

Port Vale secured the opening win in Group B after goals from debutant Diamond Edwards and fellow newcomer Ruari Baton wrapped up a 2-0 win on the road at Salford City, whilst the first three points in Group F went the way of Manchester United U21 after another late comeback win for an Academy side – this time against Barnsley.

The home side hit the front at Oakwell thanks to a first half double from Vimal Yoganathan but United’s youngsters battled back in the second half to draw level with ten minutes left through Ethan Ennis. Jack Fletcher, son of former United regular Darren, then scored twice in three minutes to confirm a 3-1 win, including a spectacular volley from outside the box.

Chesterfield picked up two points from the first game after beating Manchester City U21 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Group G, with Darren Oldaker hitting the equaliser after Jacob Wright had fired City in front.

A double from Jordan Hugill meanwhile was enough to allow Rotherham United to see off Mansfield Town in the Group H opener as the 2022 winners returned to the competition following relegation from the Championship.

• SOUTHERN SECTION:

Fulham U21 enjoyed a victorious start to the Group A fixtures with a win on the road against League One outfit Shrewsbury Town. The home side had hit the front in the early stages of the second half through Toto Nsiala but a quick equaliser from Callum Osmand and then a late winner from Lemar Gordon gave the Cottagers the three points.

Group B would be the only group in which all four teams were in action, with AFC Wimbledon leading the way after Omar Bugiel’s later winner secured a 1-0 success against Wycombe Wanderers, with the match between Crawley Town and Brighton & Hove Albion U21 going to penalties following a 2-2 draw.

Crawley would emerge victorious from the shootout to grab an extra point, securing a 4-3 win when Jensen Weir and Malick Yalcouye both failed to convert their kicks for the visitors.

A single goal from Tyreece Simpson was the difference as Stevenage kicked off Group D with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace U21, whilst there was another win for an EFL side against Academy opponents in Group F as Burton Albion came from behind to beat Leicester City U21.

Leicester hit the front through Amani Richards ten minutes into the second half, but Burton came back to win the game as Mason Bennett, Ryan Sweeney and Danilo Orsi secured the points.

There was no shortage of action at the Memorial Stadium as Bristol Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur U21 shared six goals in the opening fixture in Group G. Rovers hit the front through Isaac Hutchinson early on before Will Lankshear equalised, with Spurs going ahead through an individual effort from Mikey Moore.

Kofi Shaw equalised for Rovers only for Damola Ajayi to put Spurs back in front, with Luke McCormick forcing penalties when he brought the home side level for a second time.

Jake Garrett would be the unlucky player in the shootout, with his miss meaning Spurs took the extra point.

Reading opened up with victory in Group H against West Ham U21s, going two up through Jayden Wareham and Kelvin Abrefa before Harlee Dean put through his own goal to half the deficit.

Tyler Sackey confirmed three points in the final five minutes when he added the third to wrap up a 3-1 win.