Hull City Under-18s exited the FA Youth Cup in the third round after a 5-4 penalty shootout defeat.
Both teams couldn’t be separated after 120 minutes, playing out a 2-2 draw at The Den, but Jaydon Thomas-Smith’s winning penalty sent last year’s semi-finalists through to the fourth round of the prestigious youth tournament.
David Meyler and Mark Beard made four changes to their starting XI to the one that faced Barnsley in the Professional Development League last time out. Second-year scholars Stan Ashbee, Ed Devine, Stan Hewitt and Alfie Perry all started in place of Bobby Moore, Calvin Okike, Josh Ocaya and Aidan Durkan respectively.
It was a game of few clear-cut chances, with Abdul Abdulazeez heading wide for the hosts after 10 minutes. At the other end, Ramell Carter utilised the overlapping run of Devine on the left flank. The defender in-turn then picked out Dawson, but the midfielder could only head his effort over the bar.
Goalkeeper Archie Howard punched well to deny the Lions before Carter could not divert Hewitt’s powerful cross from the left goalwards at the back post. Hewitt then struck over from range with a dipping drive prior to Millwall’s goal on 40 minutes, as George Beaumont’s deflected strike from close range beat the wrong-footed Howard at his near post.
In the second half, Millwall searched for a second goal as William Wright’s looping header hit the roof of the net, before Howard saved well to deny Abdulazeez twice in as many minutes. The Millwall striker had the ball in the net in injury-time, but it was ruled out for offside. From that free-kick, the Tigers quickly countered, with Carter squaring the ball for Durkan to finish from close range in the sixth minute of injury-time.
In extra-time, Perry tested Jakub Przewozny from range before the midfielder saw a later strike blocked well by Millwall captain Elias Mansor. With a minute to play prior to half-time, City took the lead as Okike’s cross was parried by Przewozny onto defender Harry Taylor, who converted into his own net.
Howard then brilliantly denied Beaumont from a free-kick just two minutes later before the City keeper saved again to deny Taylor in the second half, with substitute Tristan Parkes heading the rebound over. Jayden Tektas was also frustrated by Howard as he saved well one-on-one at his near post before the Lions got an equaliser in stoppage-time. Despite Howard and Ashbee both doing well to stop the ball initially going over the line, Mansor’s looping header found a small gap to score and take the game to penalties.
Durkan took the first spot-kick and converted, with Perry also scoring. With Oliver Whitby and Beaumont making it 2-2, Przewozny guessed correctly to save Ashbee’s penalty before Mansor gave Millwall the advantage. Carter’s chipped spot-kick took it to 3-3 before Ralphie Beckwith put Millwall in front again, despite Howard getting a hand to it. With Ocaya’s penalty taking it to 4-4, Thomas-Smith’s finish sent the hosts into the next round.
Millwall: Przewozny; Archer, Taylor, Forbes (Parkes 91’), Beaumont; Mansor (C), Whitby, Abdulazeez (Payton 107’); Kendall (Beckwith 106’), Wright (Tektas 86’), Thomas-Smith.
Sub Not Used: Lindner.
Hull City: Howard; Leech, Revill (C), Ashbee, Devine; Perry, Shehu, Dawson (Ocaya 56’); Hewitt (Okike 75’), Jagielka (Durkan 56’), Carter.
Subs Not Used: Hopper, Silk.
