Newcastle United Under-21s and Crystal Palace Under-21s have booked their places in the knockout stages of the Jersey Mike's Trophy after securing narrow away victories over League Two clubs on Tuesday.
In Northern Group C, Newcastle's youngsters claimed a 1-0 victory against Rotherham United courtesy of a 34th-minute winner from Kyran Thompson. The result eliminated the Millers from the competition and ensured the Magpies will progress to the next round alongside pool leaders Bradford City. Crystal Palace also guaranteed their advancement following a successful trip in Southern Group E, where David Angibeaud scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win at Newport County to see the Premier League side qualify alongside Plymouth Argyle.
It was a contrasting evening for Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s, whose tournament hopes were emphatically ended in Southern Group G following a 6-0 thrashing away to League One club Cambridge United. The Seagulls were reduced to ten men during the first half when 30-year-old over-age player Ben Barclay was sent off for a deliberate handball. Isaac Heath converted the subsequent penalty, and Cambridge fully made use of their numerical advantage by finding the net five more times in the following half-hour. Callum Stead struck twice for the U's, who sealed their third win from three matches to finish at the summit of the group.
In Tuesday's other fixture, Doncaster Rovers picked up an emphatic 4-1 victory against Rochdale in Northern Group H. That result confirmed the elimination of their hosts as well as Liverpool Under-21s, with the young Reds now unable to finish any higher than third place in the section.