Peupion strikes but Albion's cup hopes in the balance

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Under-21s end group stage with win over Wealdstone but finish third in their group.

Bruce Talbot

2025-01-21T20:45+00:00

A hug for Marcus Ifill from Cam Peupion after he created the Australian's second-half goal. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion’s men’s under-21s need a helping hand from their Southampton counterparts if they are to progress in the the National League Cup, despite winning their final group game against Wealdstone on Tuesday.

Shannon Ruth’s side needed a handsome victory over their National League hosts and for Aldershot v Fulham to end in a draw to guarantee their place in the next round, but neither happened with the Shots, whom Albion had beaten in their second match, progressing after they beat the Cottagers 2-1.

They now need Saints to beat Maidenhead next week if their run in the competition is to continue although whatever happens, some consolation for the Albion is they will finish in Group A as the best of four under-21 sides and that eight points would have been enough to qualify from any of the other three groups.

Marcus Ifill goes close in the first half but his shot was blocked. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

With new professional development phase coach Jason McCarthy watching on the day after joining the club from Wycombe, Albion got stronger as the game wore on and took the lead midway through the second half through Cam Peupion. Caylan Vickers hit the bar and Albion had other opportunities but couldn’t find further goals.

Wealdstone kicked up the Grosvenor Vale slope in the first half and penned Albion back in the early stages. Hugo Fisher was called upon after just two minutes to block Christian Scott’s powerful shot and the Albion keeper was relieved to see a left-foot effort from distance by former Crawley player Enzio Boldewijn curl just wide of the post.

Connor McAvoy and Boldewijn were both booked for fouls on Marcus Ifill as Albion began to get into the game and when Ifill sped clear in the 31st minute, he pulled the ball back to Vickers who worked space but fired right-footed from inside the D straight at keeper Toby Steward.

Jamie Mullins is challenged by Wealdstone skipper Craig Eastmond. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion began to get on top and Fisher’s pinpoint clearance released Peupion five minutes later. His cross was fractionally behind Ifill but Vickers kept the move alive with some lovely trickery on the goal-line and a pull back to Ifill, whose close-range shot was blocked by McAvoy.

Ifill went close again seconds after the break with an effort from the right-hand side of the box which only just cleared the bar but he should have scored on the hour. He capitalised on a loose pass in the centre circle and raced through on Dante Baptiste’s goal but a poor touch allowed Baptiste to save and when Vickers and Jamie Mullins tried to steer the loose ball into the net their efforts were blocked.

Cam Peupion puts Albion in front midway through the second half. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Micah Obiero thought he’d scored for Wealdstone but was offside when he flicked Scott’s cross over Fisher before Albion went in front in the 68th minute. They worked the ball from right to left through Vickers to Ifiill and his low cross was tapped in by Peupion.

Albion sensed the opportunity to kill off their opponents. A lovely piece of skill by Vickers opened up space on the edge of the box but his shot crashed against the upright. In their next attack substitute Josh Duffus turned inside the six-yard box but his goalbound effort was blocked by Craig Eastmond.

Harry Howell puts his opponent under pressure. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Baptiste pushed another powerful Vickers’ effort round the post and then denied Duffus as Albion pushed on for more goals. They had to settle for one and the valuable experience gained from facing a different type of opponent in the competition.