Newcastle United and Crystal Palace Advance in Jersey Mike’s Trophy While Brighton Suffers Heavy Defeat
Newcastle United and Crystal Palace’s under-21 teams continued their successful runs in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy by securing narrow victories over League Two clubs, advancing to the knockout stages.
In Northern Group C, Newcastle’s under-21 squad overcame Rotherham United with a 1-0 scoreline, thanks to a decisive goal by Kyran Thompson. This victory not only eliminated the Millers from the tournament but also ensured that Newcastle would move forward alongside group leaders Bradford City.
Meanwhile, in Southern Group E, Crystal Palace’s under-21 side triumphed 2-1 over Newport County. David Angibeaud netted the winning goal, guaranteeing a spot in the next round for the Premier League club alongside Plymouth Argyle.
In stark contrast, Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-21 team faced a dismal outing, suffering a 6-0 defeat against League One side Cambridge United in Southern Group G. The situation worsened for Brighton when over-age player Ben Barclay received a red card for deliberate handball during the first half, leaving his team at a disadvantage. Isaac Heath successfully converted the subsequent penalty for Cambridge, who took full advantage of their numerical superiority, scoring five more goals in the following half-hour.
Callum Stead contributed two goals to the U’s impressive victory, marking their third win in as many matches and securing the top position in their group while simultaneously ending Brighton’s hopes of advancement.
In another match on Tuesday, Doncaster Rovers defeated Rochdale 4-1 in Northern Group H, eliminating both their opponents and Liverpool U21 from contention, as Liverpool can now only finish third in the group.
