Under-21s can learn from Senior Cup exit, says Ruth

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Head coach reflects on Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at Haywards Heath.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-10-01T10:30+01:00

Shannon Ruth was disappointed to see his team make an early exit in the Senior Cup. 📷Simon Roe.

Men’s under-21 head coach Shannon Ruth was disappointed at his team’s exit from the Sussex Transport Senior Cup on Wednesday, but he believes that the 2-0 defeat away to Haywards Heath Town can still be a valuable learning experience for his players.

On a very different playing surface to the academy pitches they are used to, a young Albion side fell to a scrappy goal following a set play that was only half cleared, and a superbly-struck direct free kick.

“It was the third phase of a set piece and then another set piece that caused us to lose the game,” he said. “So that's a good lesson because I don't think young players always value set pieces. If you don't take care of the basics, you can get hurt. That is something to take from the game.”

Some of the under-21 squad regulars were joining in first-team training at Lancing, meaning that younger players had the chance to step up against a Haywards Heath full of confidence and unbeaten in their eight games in the Southern Combination premier division. England under-16 defender Chetam Ezenwata and England under-17 right back Fraser Widdop both caught the eye at times.

“The international break becomes a really good opportunity for some of our other under-21s to train with our first team,” Ruth explained. “I couldn't fault the lads' effort to compete. There were three 16-year-olds on the pitch, but they were up for the fight.

Fraser Widdop impressed in the defeat to Haywards Heath Town. 📷Simon Roe

“But I am disappointed to be out this early because it is a competition that we value. I could name you ten players that are some of the greatest successes from our academy who have all played in this competition. The competition as a whole is a good football education. Wednesday was closer to first team football than what they get in Premier League 2.”

The game was played before Haywards Heath’s record crowd of 1,267, which created a cracking atmosphere at the HSEnergy Group Stadium.

“Some of them experienced a noisy crowd for the first time,” Ruth said. "So for them to have the atmosphere, it adds stress, it adds anxiety, it adds questions of their decision-making. All of them will be better for that.”