Two for Howell but under-21s are beaten

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16-year-old midfielder scored two penalties but Albion lose 5-3 at Wycombe in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Bruce Talbot

2024-09-17T20:55+01:00

Harry Howell made it 5-3 with his second penalty of the night. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Albion have a lot of work to do if they are to repeat last season’s run to the quarter-finals of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy after a 5-3 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.

On the same ground where their hopes ended last season, the under-21s were punished for a poor first-half defensive performance. They found themselves 4-0 down after 36 minutes with former Birmingham City and Crawley striker Bez Lubala eventually helping himself to four goals including a hat-trick before the break.

Head coach Shannon Ruth would have been pleased with his team’s response though.

Harry Howell converted two penalties either side of a close-range goal by Marcus Ifill but Albion will need a handsome win over AFC Wimbledon in their final group game next Tuesday and hope other results go their way if they are to finish in the top two in Southern Group B.

Harry Howell's well-struck penalty got a goal back for Albion. 📷 Paul Hazlewood

Frustratingly for Ruth, Wycombe did not have to work hard for their first-half goals.

Lubala opened his account on 13 minutes when the defence didn’t deal with Jasper Pattenden’s header forward and it needed a great tackle by keeper Killian Cahill, who dispossessed Lubala when he was in on goal eight minutes later, to prevent another goal.

But it was 2-0 seconds later when Kieran Sadlier beat Cahill with a low shot into the corner.

Albion responded and Caleb Taylor made a crucial block to prevent Howell from converting Cam Peupion’s cross but on 33 minutes Lubala slid in his second. Three minutes later Lubala converted David Wheeler’s right-wing cross for his hat-trick and Wycombe’s fourth.

Josh Duffus challenges Wycombe's Caleb Taylor. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Pattenden’s foul on Peupion in the box gave Albion a lifeline and Howell confidently sent keeper Shamal George the wrong way from the spot to pull a goal back in first-half stoppage time.

Within five minutes of the restart, though, Lubala scored his fourth, volleying powerfully past Cahill with his right foot after good work by Declan Skura.

But Albion weren’t quite finished. Marcus Ifill made it 5-2 in the 55th minute after Peupion did well to get to the byline and cross low into the midfielder’s path. Ifill made no mistake from close range.

Marcus Ifill (centre) makes it 5-2 after good work by Cam Peupion. 📷 Paul Hazlewood

Both sides traded chances in the closing stages. Wheeler side-footed wide with only Cahill to beat before George ended Peupion’s mazy run by upending him in the six-yard box and 16-year-old Howell converted impressively from the spot for the second time with ten minutes to go.

Albion: Cahill, Tasker, J. Vickers (Simmonds 46), Turns ©, Samuels (Mills 80), Peupion, Ifill (Flower 56), Knight (C. Vickers 56), Owusu (Albarus 20), Howell, Duffus (Moulton 80). Sub not used: Fisher.