Dramatic Group Finale Sets Up Bristol Street Motors Knock-Out Stages

Dramatic Group Finale Sets Up Bristol Street Motors Knock-Out Stages

The line-up for the Round of 32 in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy has now been firmed up after a dramatic night of fixtures brought the curtain down on the group stage.

At least place in the next stage was at stake in the majority of groups meaning there was plenty to play for – with one game going all the way to penalty kicks before qualification was confirmed for the winner...

Northern Section:

Stockport County had already qualified from Group A with a game to spare and will be joined in the hat by Tranmere Rovers after they came out on top at Edgeley Park.

Kristian Dennis put the visitors in front mid-way through the first half before Joshua Hawkes added a second shortly before the break to earn a knock-out slot.

All four teams were in action in Group B, with Wrexham and Port Vale both looking to try and emerge on top of the standings when they went head-to-head at Vale Park.

Wrexham hit the front early in the second half when Max Cleworth – a late addition to the starting eleven after Will Boyle was injured in the warm-up – netted at the back post, with Vale equalising late on through Rico Richards.

Port Vale would take the bonus point after winning the penalty shootout, but it was Wrexham who headed the group on goal difference.

In the other tie in the group, Salford City avoiding finishing bottom of the group with a 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers U21, with early goals from Jezreel Davies and Cole Stockton putting the League Two side in the driving seat. Wolves got one back through Caden Voice before the break only for Davies to add his second, with the visitors slipping to the bottom of the group despite Ty Barnett netting in stoppage time.

Group C was the scene of the biggest drama of the night in the battle to join Morecambe in the knock-out stage, with Wigan Athletic and Nottingham Forest U21 doing battle at the Brick Community Stadium.

The game would end on a goalless draw before Wigan ‘keeper Tom Watson was the hero, saving all three penalties from the visitors to put the Latics in the hat.

Having already confirmed their spot in the next round, Morecambe rounded out the group stage with a 2-1 home loss to Carlisle United, with Freddie O’Donoghue and Ben Williams scoring in the second half to cancel out Hallam Hope’s opener.

Former winners Bolton Wanderers left it late to secure top spot in Group D, with a narrow victory over Fleetwood Town. Bolton led at half-time thanks to Aaron Collins before Fleetwood drew level shortly after the break through Ryan Graydon.

Collins netted his second goal in stoppage time however to earn all three points, with Aston Villa U21 therefore emerging from the group in second place despite crashing to defeat at Barrow.

Goals from Dominic Telford, Theo Vassell and Andrew Dallas wrapped up a 3-0 win for the League Two side but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from propping up the group.

Blackpool wrapped up top spot in Group E following a penalty shootout win over Harrogate Town, having come back from 2-0 down at Wetherby Road.

Eno Nto and Warren Burrell put the home side in control at half-time, but Blackpool came back to draw level with late goals from Jordan Rhodes and Ryan Finnigan. The visitors then took the bonus point with a 5-4 shootout win.

Huddersfield Town went into their final tie in Group F needing to win against Manchester United U21 and progressed in fine style against the Red Devils with a 4-1 success.

Despite seeing Victor Musa cancel out an opening strike from Ben Wiles, three second half goals from Rhys Healey, David Kasumu and Thomas Lee ensured that the Terriers go through.

Group G ended with Chesterfield on top after a double from James Berry helped to see off Grimsby Town in a 3-2 win, with Lincoln City joining them in the next round after a 5-0 demolition of Manchester City U21.

Lincoln were in control from the moment Freddie Draper hit a sixth minute opener, with five different scorers wrapping up the points in front of a crowd of more than 3,000.

The final fixture in Group H between Bradford City and Rotherham United is the only game yet to be played, but both teams are already confirmed in the draw for the next round.

Southern Section:

Walsall ensured top spot in Group A ahead of big-spending Birmingham City with a straightforward 3-0 victory at home to Shrewsbury Town.

Reyes Cleary, George Hall and Nathan Lowe all netted in the second half as Walsall overhauled their Midlands neighbours, with Shrewsbury bowing out without a point.

Having lost out in the final last season, Wycombe Wanderers remain on course for a return to Wembley after topping Group B thanks to a home win against Crawley Town.

Brandon Hanlon put Wycombe in front early on and whilst Tola Showunmi equalised ten minutes later, Luke Leahy’s strike on the half hour mark proved to be the winner.

Charlton Athletic emerged from Group C with a perfect winning record thanks to a Miles Leaburn goal against EFL newcomers Bromley, who needed to win the game to progress, whilst in Group D, Stevenage edged through to the knock-out stages after a 1-1 draw with Gillingham.

Josh Andrews put Gillingham in front before Daniel Kemp equalised in the second half, although Gillingham grabbed the bonus point with a 5-4 success in the shootout.

A tight battle for progression in Group E resulted in Colchester United and Leyton Orient both earning a spot in the next round.

Colchester secured the group win thanks to a 3-0 success against Arsenal U21 in front of a crowd of more than 4,000, whilst Orient jumped ahead of the Gunners in the standings thanks to a 3-1 win on the road at Milton Keynes Dons.

Burton Albion earned top spot in Group F after back from a goal down after two minutes to secure a comprehensive 5-2 win against Northampton Town, who progress in second place in the group.

That was despite a goal from Cedwyn Scott giving Notts County a 1-0 win against Leicester City U21 that left the top three teams all level on six points – with goal difference knocking County out of the competition.

Swindon Town secured second spot in Group Gafter coming from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur U21 thanks to a second half winner from Sean McGurk, with Reading going through from Group H thanks to a 3-0 win over Newport County – with all three goals coming in the final 20 minutes.

The draw for the next round will take place on Friday 22 November.