Albion beaten on penalties in Trophy opener

Cam Peupion and Josh Duffus on target as Albion open Bristol Street Motors Trophy with 2-2 draw before Crawley claim bonus point with shootout success.

2024-08-20T21:50+01:00

The smile says it all as Cam Peupion celebrates his goal against Crawley. Photo: Paul Hazlewood

Our men’s under-21s started their Bristol Street Motors Trophy with a deserved 2-2 draw against Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday, although they missed out on an extra point after losing the penalty shootout 4-3.

Cam Peupion gave Albion an early lead but the hosts hit back through goals from defenders Charlie Barker and Antony Papadopoulos. The visitors responded and Josh Duffus made it 2-2 six minutes from time to take the game to penalties.

Jensen Weir, who nearly won it in stoppage time when his shot came back off the post, struck the first penalty against the bar and after Crawley scored four out of four Malick Yalcouye’s spot-kick was saved by Crawley keeper Eddie Beach.

Albion had gone in front after ten minutes. Toby Mullarkey's attempt to find Beach was intercepted by Peupion, who still had a lot to do but his first touch took the ball wide of the keeper and he sent a controlled right-foot volley from just inside the box into an empty net.

Cam Peupion produces a fine right-foot finish to put Albion in front. Photo: Paul Hazlewood

Albion’s lead lasted just three minutes. Barker picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and sent a right-foot volley past Killian Cahill with the aid of a deflection. It was a strike his dad Richie – who played for Albion and managed Crawley – would have been proud of.

Both sides knocked the ball around well and Albion went close again when the impressive Peupion produced a perceptive pass on 28 minutes to Duffus. His right-foot strike was powerful enough but it came back off the base of the near post.

Peupion threatened again five minutes after the break. Yalcouye and Duffus combined to set up the chance for the Australian, but Beach dived to his left to push his shot away. Peupion then burst through but opted for power instead of placement and Beach made a good save.

Imari Samuels breaks forward in the second half. Photo: Paul Hazlewood

With Yalcouye impressive in midfield Albion seemed to be getting on top but they were stunned by a super strike from Papadopoulos, who let fly with his right foot on 55 minutes from wide on the left with a shot which gave Cahill no chance.

It was end to end stuff in the closing stages. Barker clipped a right-foot shot from the corner of the box and Peupion could only find the side netting after a sweeping Albion counter.

Crawley sub Armando Quitirna beat Cahill from a tight angle but his right-foot shot went just wide of the far post before Albion levelled in the 84th minute when Peupion found Duffus in space on the edge of the six-yard box and the striker fired powerfully past Beach.

Weir nearly won it in stoppage time but Beach did superbly to push his powerful shot onto the post and ensure the extra point would be decided on penalties.

Josh Duffus celebrates after equalising for Albion. Photo: Paul Hazlewood

Albion: Cahill, Offiah, Simmonds (Ifill 71), Vickers (Howell 66), Samuels, Cozier-Duberry (Tasker 71), Yalcouye, Weir, Peupion, Duffus (Moulton 90), Vickers.