Last night, the Checkatrade trophy got underway.
As was the case last season, Chelsea have agreed to field an U21 side in the competition, the hope being that the experience of playing against teams from the Football League will give some of our promising youngsters a shine to excel.
The first fixture of the group stages saw the squad make the long trip to Home Park, Plymouth, to take on Plymouth Argyle.
For a large chunk of the game it looked as if the youngsters were headed towards a victory.
Two first-half goals from Bradley Hudson-Odoi, appeared to have given Chelsea the win as the game approached the final few minutes.
But a late rally from the home side saw Alex Fletcher score twice in the last two minutes to force the game to a penalty shoot-out.
Unfortunately, just as the first-team had done in the Community Shield against Arsenal, it was a shoot-out from which Chelsea were not to emerge victorious.
Of the ten penalties taken, it was Plymouth Argyle that took the extra-point on offer when Jacob Maddox became, on the night, the only player not to score from the spot, meaning Plymouth Argyle won the shoot-out 5-4.
Better luck next time lads.
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