First Four Secure Bristol Street Motors Trophy Quarter Final Slots
The first four quarter-finalists in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy have been revealed after the opening set of fixtures in the Round of 16.
The first game in the Northern Section saw League One promotion hopefuls Derby County go up against Bradford City, who currently sit mid-table in League Two.
Bradford made the trip to Pride Park having suffered defeat at the weekend against Crawley, who grabbed a 4-2 victory thanks to two injury time goals, whilst Derby themselves had picked up three points on the road at Fleetwood Town to move into fourth in the table.
Both sides created chances throughout the first half, with Bradford going close when a shot from Harry Chapman was deflected narrowly wide.
The away side grabbed the lead when Sam Stubbs headed in a corner on 67 minutes and he was one of a number of players to have spurn chances to extend Bradford’s advantage before the League Two side confirmed its place in the next round.
Elsewhere in the Northern Section, holders Bolton Wanderers visit Accrington Stanley, with Blackpool hosting Burton Albion this evening, with Doncaster against Wigan taking place next Tuesday.
In the Southern Section, another team flying high in League One faced off against League Two opposition, with Oxford United making the trip to AFC Wimbledon.
Both sides had exited the FA Cup at the third round stage over the course of the weekend, and Oxford started well to force Wimbledon keeper Nik Tzanev into an impressive double save in the opening minutes.
However, Wimbledon then hit the front through James Tilley when he was able to break down the right-hand side before cutting in and arrowing a shot beyond Simon Eastwood into the goal.
Oxford had chances to equalise before Tilley added a second after the break, with the away side then having ‘keeper Eastwood sent off in the closing minutes for a foul on Harry Pell.
With Oxford therefore joining Derby in bowing out, Wycombe Wanderers are the only League One team to have earned a place in the quarter-finals as it stands having seen off the challenge of West Ham’s U21 side at Adams Park.
Wycombe went ahead early on when Lewis Orford could only help the ball into his own net after a goalmouth scramble before debutant Richard Kone took advantage of a mistake at the back to double the home side’s lead with a coolly-taken finish.
West Ham found a way back into the game when Gideon Kodua drove in an angled shot just before the hour mark and he almost forced penalties at the death when his shot was cleared off the line.
The final game of the evening saw Reading travel to Brighton to face off against the Premier League side’s U21 outfit, with Reading having the better chances before the game ultimately ended goalless and went to penalty kicks.
Brighton emerged from the shootout with a 3-2 win to secure a place in the quarter-finals, with the last fixture in the Southern Section this evening between Peterborough United and Crawley Town.