In a game which featured Billy Gilmour, Harvey Vale and Tino Anjorin, who were earlier part of the Men’s senior pre-season group, as well as a debut for new signing Omari Hutchinson, our young Blues shared the spoils with the Monarchs in normal time but lost the penalty shoot-out 5-4. You can watch the MLS NEXT Pro highlights of the game here.

In the early moments of the game Dion Rankine showed great trickery and then composure to fire us into the lead, beating two men on his way to goal.

Against the run of play the Blues surrendered the lead as Tyrone Mondi received a well-weighted through ball and smashed an effort into the roof of the net.

A high boot in the box from Charlie Webster 10 minutes into the second half was deemed to be dangerous play and the Monarchs were awarded a penalty. However, Academy summer signing Eddie Beach saved spectacularly with an outstretched right-hand.

Five minutes after the hour mark our lead was restored as Ben Elliott slalomed his way around a defender and the goalkeeper to score a classy goal.

A foul by Alfie Gilchrist in the penalty area gave the Monarchs another opportunity from the spot and this time Pedro Fonseca was able to send Beach the wrong way to draw the home team level.

Hutchinson, a second half substitute, was bright and showed his quality throughout. The 19-year-old set up Jimi Tauriainen in the final moments of the game but the Finnish midfielder blazed over.

The game would end 2-2 and Real Monarchs would go on to win the penalty shoot-out 5-4, with Elliott missing his kick for the young Blues.

In his first interview since being appointed development squad head coach Mark Robinson spoke to the Chelsea website after the game.

‘The players’ attitude in training has been excellent and they have attacked any new ideas we have put to them with enthusiasm and an open mind. Our training group has been big, but I feel physically we are in a good place.

‘Tonight’s game was a real mixed performance. They looked like a side well into their season and we looked like a side still in pre-season and the altitude definitely had an effect on us pressing with the same energy we have in our previous two games.

‘Nonetheless, we are looking forward to putting in a more complete performance against Wolves on Thursday night.’

Our development squad are next in action on Thursday 21 July against Wolverhampton Wanderers as the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational continues.

In other Academy news, George Nunn and Josh Tobin have left the club.

Nunn has moved to League One side Derby County, bringing to an end a four-year spell with Chelsea. He played predominantly as a striker and on occasions a left-sided attacker, although it was in a wing-back position he featured most often in the development squad in the 2021/22 season.

He scored 17 goals in 92 Academy appearances across a number of competitions.

Tobin, an 18-year-old centre-back or midfielder, departs having joined as an Under-13 from local grassroots football.

He spent a portion of last season as the captain of the Under-18s and will be fondly remembered for scoring a goal from inside his own half against Stoke City in the semi-final of the Under-18 Premier League Cup.

We thank both players and wish them the best of luck in the next phase of their careers.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Ted Curd; Josh Brooking, Xavier Mbuyamba, Lewis Hall; Dion Rankine, Billy Gilmour, Tino Anjorin, Harvey Vale; Joe Haigh, Jayden Wareham, Jude Soonsup-Bell

Subs used: Eddie Beach, Jimi Tauriainen, Ben Elliott, Derrick Abu, Alfie Gilchrist, Omari Hutchinson, Bashir Humphreys, Xavier Simons, Charlie Webster, Edwin Andersson, Mason Burstow

Unused sub: Sami Tlemcani

Scorers: Rankine 2, Elliott 65