U21s: Romulus 1-3 Aston Villa

Aston Villa secured their place in the third round of the Birmingham Senior Cup, with a 2-1 victory over Romulus at Sutton Coldfield Town’s Domino’s Arena. 

Having received a bye into round two, Josep Gombau’s under-21s came back from a goal down to tie up the victory, courtesy of an own goal and a sublime Bradley Burrowes strike. 

It was the hosts who started the stronger under the Friday evening lights, as Maradoche Mipro gave Neil Tooth’s men the lead from close range with just four minutes on the clock, but the Young Lions deservedly drew level just after the half-hour mark, ensuring they went in at half-time level thanks to Burrowes’ brilliance. 

The second half saw Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba force an own goal to put Villa into the lead just before the hour mark, before substitute Charlie Lutz’s late effort made sure of the triumph. 

The hosts started the stronger, taking the lead just four minutes in. After James Bowen’s swerving half-volley from the edge of the area struck the post, Maradoche Mipro was first to react, converting the rebound.

Villa looked for a response, with Burrowes carrying their biggest threat down the right-hand side. Midway through the opening period, he stood a ball up to the far post which Charlie Pavey trapped, though his curling shot dropped just wide of the far post, before Sil Swinkels saw a header well saved just before the half-hour mark.

The Young Lions kept pushing as half-time approached, with Kobei Moore nodding Kane Taylor’s dinked ball into the middle agonisingly over, but it didn’t take Gombau’s team much longer to claw themselves level. 

The dangerous Burrowes received the ball on the edge of the area, taking a touch to drift inside, before curling an unstoppable effort into the far corner. 

The Villans started the second half in a similar vein, with Kerr Smith jinking into the area and dragging his shot wide of the near post after a corner was only partially cleared.

And, come the hour mark, they had taken the lead for the first time in the tie. Tricky work from Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba down Villa’s right bought him space for a cross, which he fizzed low into the centre, forcing Romulus defender Talon Shepherd to steer the ball into his own net. 

But the hosts responded as they looked to tie the encounter for a second time. Substitute Isai Marselia aimed for the far corner with a bending effort from the edge of the area, however Sam Lewis was alert to pull off a magnificent stop and tip the ball behind. 

Villa continued to come forward, looking to make sure of the result, as Rodrigo Fortes’ menacing low ball into the centre was inches away from being tapped home by the sliding Lutz. 

But shortly after, the Villa substitute would find the net to book his side’s place in the next round, with a neat turn and finish inside the area giving Lewis Gwilliams between the Romulus sticks no chance. 

Gombau’s youngsters still searched for more into the four minutes of added time, though in the end settled for the two-goal advantage they possessed, to make a successful start of their defence of the Birmingham Senior Cup. 

Villa: Lewis; Rowe, Smith (Katsukunya 78), Swinkels (Amundsen-Day 70), Fortes; Alcock (c), Pavey (Pierre 46); Burrowes, Jimoh-Aloba, Taylor, Moore (Lutz 46). Subs (not used): Hammond. 

Romulus: Gwilliams; Francis (c), Ibhadon (McPike 85), Shepherd (Rehman 83), Bowen; Mipro (Nunn 14), Clarke, Sang, Thompson-McKenzie (Okojie 86), Sawyers; Uwabor (Marselia 56).