O'Mahony double seals comeback win

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Albion under-21s go out of Premier League Cup despite 4-1 win over Hull City on Monday.

Bruce Talbot

2024-02-05T21:55:00Z

O'Mahony gets his head to Ifill's cross and puts Albion ahead.

Albion couldn’t get the nine-goal win that would have put them into the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup but they did end their group stage campaign by completing the double over Hull City.

The Tigers led at the break at the American Express Elite Football Centre on Monday, but two goals from Mark O’Mahony sandwiched by Samy Chouchane’s penalty and a late effort by substitute Louis Flower earned Albion a 4-1 win.

O'Mahony scoring his second of the night.

It was never likely that Albion would score nine goals even though they had won 5-0 against Hull in their first meeting. Their task was made even more difficult in the tenth minute when Joe Knight brought down Tyrell Sellers-Fleming as the Hull striker turned just inside the box and a penalty was awarded. Keeper Hugo Fisher dived the right way but Sellers-Fleming’s penalty had too much power.

Although Albion had lots of possession in the first half a well organised, compact Hull team happy to sit in and counter-attack proved hard to break down, although towards half-time the hosts began to find more space.

Hull keeper Owen Foster kept out Jamie Mullins’ shot and then Mullins threaded a lovely pass into O’Mahony’s path but his fellow Irishman’s effort was blocked by Stan Ashbee. Ashbee also produced another timely block to deflect Chouchane’s effort wide.

Samy Chouchane makes no mistake from the spot.

Albion were much more composed in their build-up in the second half and the chances – and goals – eventually came.

Chouchane’s wonderful 40-yard pass into O’Mahony’s path had Foster wondering whether to stick or twist. He brought O’Mahony down after 62 minutes as the striker went round him and the night’s second penalty was rammed home by skipper Chouchane.

After Mullins placed an effort inches wide after good work by Benicio Baker-Boaitey, Albion went ahead on 74 minutes when substitute Marcus Ifill produced a cross from the left and O’Mahony bravely put his head where defenders’ boots were flying to make it 2-1 from close range.

Benicio Baker-Boaitey stretches to keep the ball in play.

Flower and Luca Barrington had further opportunities before Albion struck again on 88 minutes. Flower provided a good ball from the left and O’Mahony produced a composed side-foot finish.

There was still time for Flower to make it 4-1 in stoppage time after O’Mahony’s shot was blocked and the substitute was able to stab the loose ball into an empty net.

Albion: Fisher, Jackson, Simmonds, Kavanagh (Nilsson 45), Knight (Smith 65), Chouchane, Howell (Flower 74), Mullins, Barrington, O’Mahony, Baker-Boaitey (Ifill 74).