The Under-18 Premier League South leaders were ruthless in downing the Seagulls away from home as Tudor Mendel-Idowu, Charlie Webster, Malik Mothersille, Leo Castledine and Edwin Andersson all got on the scoresheet in a 6-1 victory.

It leaves Ed Brand's side level with Southampton and Leicester City on 22 points after the opening 10 games of the season.

Team news

Head coach Brand made a couple of changes from the side that were victorious against Crystal Palace before the international break. Derrick Abu, Luke Badley-Morgan, Samuel Rak-Sakyi and Silko Thomas all came into the line-up for our trip to the South Coast.

Unfortunate start

Our young Blues began the game well, commanding possession and moving the ball confidently. A couple of half-chances in the opening moments of the game was a welcome signal of intent from the team early on.

Mendel-Idowu delivered a wicked low cross which the Brighton shot-stopper got his fingertips to, preventing the ball from reaching Mothersille, who was starting up front.

Despite this, seemingly against the run of play, Brighton’s first attack of the game saw them open the scoring as an incisive pass and pinpoint low cross found attacker Elliot Jenks on hand to prod home despite Prince Adegoke’s best efforts to keep the ball out.

Fighting back

Brighton grew in confidence following the goal and threatened a second but it was our boys who got the next goal of the game. A brilliant cross-field ball from Thomas found Mendel-Idowu, who jinked his way into the box and was fouled.

As it appeared that the referee was about to blow for a penalty, the onrushing Webster hammered home a right-footed effort into the right-hand corner of the keeper’s net to make it 1-1.

We soon completed the comeback with a well-worked goal on the stroke of half-time. Skipper Josh Tobin strode out from the back and fed Thomas, who in turn laid it off for Edwin Andersson. The Swede quickly delivered a perfectly floated cross into the box and Mothersille’s looping header was placed far beyond the keeper’s reach. It was a deserved second for the Blues just before half-time.

No respite

We started the second half the same way we began the first, showing our credentials as league leaders. Excellent combination play down the left won a first corner of the restart and that resulted in our third goal of the game.

The corner was delivered by Andersson into the middle of the box and, following after a brief scramble for the ball, Mendel-Idowu poked in to grab us a decisive third goal.

With Brighton searching for a way back into the game, their plans went from bad to worse as left wing-back Jake Gee was sent off after a second yellow card. The resulting free-kick was fired in by Webster and Castledine flew in to connect and give us an easy fourth goal.

The Seagulls were always facing an uphill battle from there, especially with ten men. Damage limitation was the name of the game for the home side but they just could not keep up with Brand's boys. A scooped pass from Tobin found Mendel-Idowu who fended off his opponent and finished expertly for 5-1.

Almost immediately after the restart, we grabbed a sixth goal of the game as Andersson was on hand to drill home after a brilliant pass from Webster.

That rounded off the scoring, with our Under-18s staying top of the southern league with this latest victory. Next up is Derby County in the Premier League Cup next Saturday 27 November.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1) Prince Adegoke; Josh Tobin (c), Billy Gee, Luke Badley-Morgan; Derrick Abu (Zain Silcott-Duberry 81), Samuel Rak-Sakyi (Richard Olise 72), Charlie Webster, Edwin Andersson; Silko Thomas (Leo Castledine 45), Tudor Mendel-Idowu, Malik Mothersille (Louis Flower 81)Unused subs Sami TlemcaniBooked Mothersille 36Scorers Webster 30; Mothersille 44; Mendel-Idowu 48, 86; Castledine 65; Andersson 87

Brighton & Hove Albion (3-4-3) Fynn Talley; Ruairi McConville, Lee Cavanagh, Jackson Ben (c); Jake Gee, Elliot Jenks, Samy Chouchane, Joe Winstanley (Bailey Smith 81); Ifill Marcus, Andy Moran (Jaami Qureshi 69), Zak Emmerson (John Lucero 72)Unused subs Hugo Fisher, Kain RyanBooked Gee 42Sent off Gee 63Scorer Jenks 14