Goals Fly In As Vertu Trophy Gets Underway

The 2025/26 Vertu Trophy kicked off in high-scoring fashion with nearly 100 goals in the opening round of fixtures.

Spread across two weeks, the initial games saw a number of those expected to battle for honours launch their bid for a place at Wembley Stadium, with the likes of Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle returning to the competition after relegation from the EFL Championship and Peterborough United also starting their bid for a third successive Trophy win.

NORTHERN SECTION

Stockport County looked to be in trouble early on against Wolves U21 when the visitors grabbed a 2-0 lead inside twelve minutes at Edgeley Park, but Nathan Lowe and Joe Astles helped to turn things around as the League One took the points with a 5-3 win.

Elsewhere in Group A, Wigan Athletic handed professional debuts to eight academy graduates who gave a good account of themselves before ultimately slipping to a 2-0 loss at home to Salford City.

Group C saw both games end in 2-1 victories for the home side – and both decided by goals in stoppage time.

Andy Cook left it until the 95th minute to grab the winner for Bradford City against Grimsby whilst Joseph Sbarra netted in the 94th minute for Doncaster Rovers to take the points just two minutes after it looked like Justin Clarke had earned Everton U21 a draw.

Lincoln City earned three points with a straightforward home win against Notts County in Group D, with Bolton getting off the mark in Group E thanks to a Thierry Gale strike against Rotherham. Manchester City U21 top the group having dismantled Oldham Athletic 5-1 at Boundary Park a week earlier.

Five different players netted for Huddersfield in a fine 6-2 home win against Newcastle United U21 in Group F, whilst Port Vale also enjoyed a sizeable victory over an academy side in Group G – coming from behind to beat Leeds United U21 4-1 and top the group ahead of Fleetwood Town, who beat Accrington Stanley in a penalty shootout.

On-loan forward Emre Tezgel was the main man for Crewe Alexandra in Group H as he scored a hat-trick in a 7-1 demolition of Chesterfield, with the other tie going the way of Burton Albion after a goal in each half against Liverpool U21.

SOUTHERN SECTION

Having endured a tough start to life in League One, Plymouth Argyle secured three points against Cheltenham Town to top Group B ahead of Bristol Rovers, who earned two points from a penalty shootout win over Tottenham Hotspur following a 4-4 draw.

Shrewsbury Town are the only team to have played two fixtures, winning 3-1 against Chelsea U21 before being beaten by Walsall by the same score in Group C, with the only tie in Group D seeing Swindon beat Reading 3-2 – with the exotically-named Princewill Ehibhatiomhan amongst the scorers.

Stevenage hit AFC Wimbledon for five at Plough Lane in Group E to lead the way ahead of Bromley, who conceded a late equaliser at home to Crystal Palace U21 before winning on penalties, whilst Peterborough’s title defence started with defeat after Leyton Orient left the London Road Stadium with all three points following a 3-1 win – despite playing much of the game with ten men.

Gillingham are the early pace-setters in Group G having beaten Fulham U21 4-1, with Jack Tucker hitting a last minute winner for Colchester United in the other tie against Wycombe Wanderers.

Luton Town meanwhile returned to the Vertu Trophy less than 18 months after playing in the Premier League, and top Group H after winning their opening game against Barnet 4-1.