FA YOUTH CUP | BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION U18S 2 CAMBRIDGE UNITED U18S 0
Despite a valiant display by Cambridge United’s Under 18s the U’s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by a strong Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
The hosts started stronly and took early control of possession forcing Finley Iron into a series of early saves which the U’s keeper stood up well to. United - who were playing in the fourth round for the first time in ten years - grew into the game though.
Although they were not creating too many opportunities in front of goal, they did press their higher ranked opponents well through the midway point in the half. The returning Matt Foy came close to a golden opening when he broke through the Brighton defence before being robbed of possession when teeing up the shot.
Brighton full back Archie Davies picked up a loose ball on the edge of the U’s area and drilled an effort marginally wide, before delivering a dangerous corner for Danny Mandroiu which came close to sneaking inside Iron’s left post.
However, the U’s held firm and went down the tunnel at the break level with the Seagulls.
The U’s returned and quickly had their best chance of the match when Leon Davies beat his man down the right flank before cutting the ball back for captain Harry Darling to strike the post with his shot at goal.
The hosts missed a guilt-edged chance after the hour mark when Danny Mandroiu headed off target from the centre of the U’s six yard box.
However, Brighton took the lead in the 71st minute when Aaron Connolly stepped in off the left wing before bending an unstoppable shot past Finley Iron. And that advantage was soon doubled by the Seagulls, when substitute Danny Cashman stretched out with his right leg to finish and put the result beyond the U’s.
Brighton: McGill, Davies, O’Sullivan, Molumby, Barker, Moore, Ajiboye (Cochrane, 90 mins), Sanders, Connolly, Mandroiu, Garcia (Cashman, 63 mins)
Cambridge United: Iron, Davies, Emmins, Squire, Darling, Shaw (Watkins, 48 mins), Knowles (Neal, 65 mins), Lea (Mutswungma, 75 mins), Foy, Bell-Toxtle, Norville-Williams