It was defeat for our Under-21s in their final league game of 2024 as they suffered a 5-1 loss at Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
First-half goals from Cameron Peupion and Harry Howell, who grabbed a brace in the first 45, put the hosts in control at half-time despite some decent spells from Wayne Burnett's side, and a superb double save from Luca Gunter in between the sticks for us.
Oliver Irow grabbed a goal back late on in the second half for us, but that was sandwiched between two more goals for our hosts - firstly Peupion doubled his tally before Howell went on to complete his hat-trick from the spot with five minutes to play.
The defeat means Wayne Burnett's side end 2024 in 20th in the Premier League 2 table, four points behind Southampton in the final play-off spot.
It took Brighton just six minutes to open the scoring on the south coast with Peupion taking the ball around an outstretched Luca Gunter before showing composure to slot home. A minute later, a misplaced pass saw the hosts gifted another opportunity, with Gunter forced to palm an effort over for a corner which was then acrobatically volleyed against the crossbar as the hosts dominated the opening exchanges.
Max Robson went close to levelling the game when he rose highest to meet an in-swinging corner from the left but his flick-on header was hooked off the line by an Albion shirt. Gunter then made a double save to deny Joshua Duffus and Peupion from close range, before Tyrell Ashcroft put his body on the line to block an effort from another counter attack minutes later.
Robson again proved lively as he won a free-kick on the edge of the box but both of Damola Ajayi's efforts were blocked. He later linked up with Jaden Williams before drilling a cross in, but it was blocked and subsequently cleared.
Despite our encouraging response, Brighton went on to double their advantage when Vickers was brought down inside the area. Howell duly stepped up to the spot and converted the penalty high to Gunter's right to double his side's advantage.
A quiet 15-minute spell then followed as we looked to have stemmed the Albion attack, but late into stoppage time Howell bagged his second of the game, firing into the top-right corner from close range.
We made a positive start to the second half with a number of chances in the early stages. Firstly, Ashcroft won the ball back in the Brighton half before firing goalwards from the edge of the box, but his effort was high and wide. The resulting goal-kick was then misplaced and it found it's way out to Ajayi on the right, but his effort was blocked. Oliver Irow then won a free-kick out on the left after some excellent hold up play, it was taken quickly by Tyrese Hall who found substitute Miracle Adewole on the right, but his effort also found an Albion body.
Luca Gunter then produced his second double save of the game 10 minutes into the half, only for the Seagulls to then grab their fourth a few minutes later when Peupion notched his second goal, getting on the end of a dipping ball at the back post to poke home from close range.
Beyond the hour and Irow was the second man to see an effort hooked off the line, a scramble ensued as Albion failed to clear but all subsequent efforts were blocked before our hosts eventually cleared their lines. Yusuf Akhamrich then went down the left and cut a ball back to Robson who was fouled as he directed an effort goalwards. It flew towards the far post but Irow could only help it on it's way wide.
Irow then got himself on the scoresheet, as a beautiful team move started by a sublime turn from Hall allowed him to link up with Leo Black and Robson, with the latter drilling it across the box for Irow to slot home. However, it proved to only be a consolation as Howell completed his hat-trick from 12 yards a few minutes later, before the final chance of the game fell to Black, whose neat turn opened up an opportunity to shoot, but the effort was dragged wide.
Brighton U21 5-1 Spurs U21 (Premier League 2)
Brighton: Cahill, Tasker, Simmonds, Turns (Penman 78), Slater, Mullins, Albarus (Owusu 72), Howell, Vickers, Peupion (Ifill 69), Duffus (Flower 72). Substitutes (not used): Ferdinand.
Spurs: Gunter, McKnight, Akhamrich, Ashcroft (Andiyapan 83), Cassanova (c), Kyerematen (Black 69), Robson, Ajayi, Williams (Adewole 45), Tyrese Hall, O. Irow. Substitutes (not used): Maguire, Baptiste.