Aston Villa bowed out of the FA Youth Cup at the hands of Burton Albion at Pirelli Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Jamaldeen Jimoh gave the visiting Villans the perfect start with a dazzling solo goal after seven minutes.
Burton’s equaliser from Kiyan Baker-McKay on 20 minutes altered the momentum of the match and the hosts forged ahead when Dylan Scott buried a penalty shortly after half-time.
Scott was on hand to secure Albion’s place in the fourth round when he tapped home a cross on 81 minutes.
Villa, four-time winners of this prestigious competition, wasted no time in making their presence felt, taking the lead on the back of a fine individual goal after seven minutes.
Sam Lewis’ scuffed long ball was brought under control by Jimoh five yards inside his own half before he promptly rolled his marker and raced towards the Burton box.
As he reached the edge of the area, a chop onto his left foot took him away from three defenders and he coolly placed a shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
The visitors were controlling possession and probing for ways to increase their lead before Burton hit back with their first attack of the game on 20 minutes.
Charlie Knowles ventured down the right and his deflected cross looped up onto the crossbar before falling to Baker-McKay, who threaded a shot through a defender and past ‘keeper Lewis.
A highly competitive game flowed from end to end but was light on clear-cut chances with the sides trading shots from long distance ahead of the half-time whistle sounding.
In a role reversal from the first half, Albion came flying out of the blocks and were awarded a penalty minutes after the restart when Knowles was felled in the box by Nile Timson.
Scott built the tension with a slow walk up to the ball before sending Lewis the wrong way and stroking a shot into the bottom corner.
TJ Carroll and Cole Brannigan were sent on as Gerard Nash looked to spark his side into life, but they were unable to break down a well-drilled Burton backline as the game ticked into the final 20 minutes.
Kamil Dudek had been a relative bystander since conceding in the opening minutes, but he was made to work twice in the space of three minutes as Luka Lynch and Rory Wilson took aim.
However, as Villa looked to apply the pressure, the home side wrapped the game up when Scott turned home a cross with nine minutes remaining.
Seven minutes of stoppage time saw Wilson and Timson threaten to pull one back but Villa were unable to find the finishing touch as they exited the competition.
Aston Villa: Lewis, McWilliams (Carroll 61’), Timson, Katsukunya, Fortes, Borland, Jimoh, Pavey, Lynch (Simpson 80’), Mulley (Brannigan 63’), Wilson.
Unused subs: McDowell, Hemmings, Moreland, Edwards.
Photos courtesy of @EpicActionImage.