A young Town U21 side lost 4-0 to a more experienced Brighton team in wind and rain at Lancing FC’s Culver Road this evening. Joe Whight netted an own goal just before the break with Will Hoskins (2) and Stephen Dobbie scoring the rest in the second half.
Josh Carson, who lined up in the centre of midfield, was the only player in the Town side to have started a senior game this season with most of the team academy scholars.
Albion went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Whight turned Solly March’s cross from the right past keeper Michael Crowe.
Town might have gone further behind just before the hour mark but Stephen Dobbie smashed a penalty over the bar after Whight had fouled Ben Sampayo.
But Dobbie was to make amends on 76 when he created the Seagulls’ second for Hoskins. The winger volleyed in the home side’s third in the 81st minute and Dobbie chipped home the fourth in the final minute.
Meanwhile, the U21s match away at Colchester, which had been scheduled for Monday 4th February, will now be played on Monday 22nd April, their game at Cardiff will now be played on Monday 25th March and their home fixture against Bristol City will now be on Monday 15th April.
The recently postponed U18s games at home to Brighton and away at Bristol City, will now take place on Saturday 2nd February and Wednesday 16th February respectively.
In U21s action elsewhere this evening was former Blues U18s skipper Callum Bennett, who is on trial at Colchester United and played for their second string side in a 3-1 defeat to Charlton at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Ipswich-born Bennett was released by Town at the end of last season.
Further to the earlier report, West Ham right-back Jordan Spence may have been amongst the reasons Blues chief scout Steve McCall was at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground to see the Hammers’ U21s beat the Gunners’ youngsters 2-0 this afternoon.
Signing a new right-back to replace Bradley Orr, who has returned to Blackburn, is amongst Mick McCarthy’s priorities, with the Blues boss admitting that he will probably have to look to the loan market.
Londoner Spence, 22, came through the ranks at Upton Park having joined them at 14 and has so far made five starts — the most recent the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United - and five sub appearances for the Hammers.
The 6ft 3in tall full-back, who can also operate at centre-half, has previously spent time on loan at Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe and Bristol City.
Capped by England at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels, Spence is contracted to West Ham until 2014.
Town U21s: Crowe, Hammond, October, Thorsteinsson, Whight, Burke, Carson, Lawrence, Winter, Marriott, Timlin. Subs: Robinson, Thompson, Galvin, Leddy, Willbye.