Albion 1 Birmingham City 1: Brennan strikes late after Brighton dominate

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Zac Brennan struck late to ensure Albion took something from the game.

Charlie Hanson

2026-04-25T14:00+01:00

Zac Brennan celebrates his late equaliser with Tate Ferdinand. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Our men’s under-18s were denied all three points as they drew 1-1 with Birmingham City in Lancing on Saturday.

Albion mustered an incredible 32 shots to the Blues’ seven, but were left to rue their missed opportunities.

In an opening half that saw Brighton have 19 attempts, Birmingham took the lead with their first effort of the game in stoppage time through Nikolai Degtiarev.

Albion couldn't quite believe they were going in at the break 1-0 down. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

The hosts continued in the same vein in the second half and found an equaliser with eight minutes to go, with Zac Brennan heading home from Bode Newnham-Reeve’s free-kick.

Under-18s interim head coach Steven Menzies said, “I was very pleased with how we started the game, we took control and played in their half. We created chances throughout the first half, hitting the bar and the post. On another day we could have been two or three up.

“They broke on us late in the half and managed to find the goal between two defenders and past the keeper. It was an excellent performance up to that point from us, but unfortunately not the scoreline to match.

Zac Brennan celebrates nodding in to make it 1-1. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

"The second half started similarly - we created but to no avail. We regained the ball quickly either through a good counter press or by cleaning up longer balls.

“Eventually we scored and then the game became more open and messy as it came to a close, they had one shot that came back off the bar and we forced the keeper and centre-backs into goal saving blocks.

"I’d say nine times out of ten we would have won that game. I am pleased with the performance but we need to show our quality with our final actions.”