Nti and Barclay strike as under-21s beat Sutton United

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Albion make it two wins out of two in the National League Cup.

Luke Nicoli

2025-09-16T20:45+01:00

Albion players celebrate with goalscorer Shane Nti. 📷 James Boardman

Albion maintained their 100 per cent record in the National League Cup thanks to second-half goals from Shane Nti and Ben Barclay at Gander Green Lane.

In a competitive encounter against a lively Sutton United side on Tuesday, the Seagulls broke the deadlock on 66 minutes when Nti sent a neat low finish beyond keeper David Aziaya.

Barclay then doubled the lead eight minutes later when he powered home an inswinging Harry Howell corner.

Sutton then scored late on to set up a grandstand finish, but Shannon Ruth's side held on for all three points.

Shane Nti fires Albion in front midway through the second half with this powerful shot. 📷 James Boardman

In action for the first time since their league encounter with Arsenal at the end of August, the Seagulls made all the early running.

The lively Howell cut in from the right, only to see his effort sail over the bar, and he went closer on 22 minutes with a curling 20-yard free-kick that narrowly cleared the upright.

The hosts, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the break with their pacey forward line, but were cancelled out by a tenacious Albion rearguard.

The visitors continued to probe and an incisive passing move involving Barclay and Howell resulted in a Nti effort coming back off a post – but the assistant referee was quick to flag for offside.

Sean Keogh challenges the home keeper. 📷 James Boardman

Sutton's best effort of a closely contested opening half came shortly before half-time when Brandon Njoku's low effort was saved at his near post by Nils Ramming. The lively Njoku also got in behind the Albion defence moments later but was thwarted by Freddie Simmonds.

The Seagulls started the second half in similar fashion to the first, with Howell causing problems, while Josh Robertson saw a shot smothered by Aziaya.

Nti then failed to connect with a Sean Keogh centre that flashed across the face of goal while at the other end substitute Ashley Nadesan headed over.

Albion got their noses in front when Robertson played in Nti and he made no mistake, drilling home to Aziaya's right.

Harry Howell blocks a clearance. 📷 James Boardman

Barclay looked to have made the game safe with his towering header but former Crawley striker Nadesan handed Sutton a lifeline in the closing stages when he broke free of the Albion backline before drilling the ball beyond Ramming.

The hosts launched an all-out attack, but Albion's defence again stood firm to secure all three points.

Albion: Ramming, Simmonds, Atom, Barclay, Albarus, Knight (Owusu 81), Keogh (Silsby 76), Robertson, Howell (Belmont 76), Oriola (Mackley 84), Nti. Subs not used: Jensen, Middleton, Kasvosve.