Chelsea Under-21s battled the older and more experienced opposition right until the final whistle in an intense, end-to-end contest. The fixture started at a rapid pace, with the Blues applying immediate pressure and scoring the opener just three minutes in, when Donnell McNeilly slotted the ball home neatly.

The home side quickly responded, showing their resilience when Levi Amantchi equalised, capitalising on an opportunity to find the back of the net.

Harvey Vale displayed great determination in scoring his first goal of the evening. The play began with Kiano Dyer pressuring the opposition, leading to a chance for Vale. Although his initial shot hit the post, the forward was quick to react, seizing the rebound and firing past the keeper.

After the break, Chelsea maintained our intensity. A familiar combination between Brodi Hughes and Vale led to another goal, with Vale finding the bottom corner to extend Chelsea's lead.

Despite Bromley pulling one back with a long-distance strike from Ashley Charles, it wasn’t enough to overturn Chelsea's advantage, as the visitors continued to dominate the play.

Action packed start

This EFL Trophy opener got off to an intense start, with Chelsea showing immediate passion and aggression. Ishe Samuels-Smith delivered a looping ball down the wing to find Vale, who was unmarked and hammered a shot at goal, but the effort rebounded off the crossbar.

It didn’t take long for a breakthrough, and what a fine goal it was, as Chelsea’s strength paid off just three minutes into the clash. McNeilly found the back of the net by picking up the ball in a scramble inside the area and drilling it straight past the keeper, giving him no chance as Sam Long was still recovering from an earlier low effort from Samuels-Smith.

However, it was clear this would be an entertaining game, as League Two Bromley were ready to respond, and it only took them four minutes to do so. Using their physical strength, our opponents charged down the pitch. Although Max Merrick did well to deal with Omar Sowunmi’s initial header, Amantchi picked up the loose ball and fired it straight through the Chelsea keeper’s gloves to level the score.

On the edge of our seats

We reacted well to the setback. A nice spell of possession saw Hughes travel down the wing, cutting back for Vale inside the area. Our captain on the evening attempted an audacious overhead bicycle-kick, but the effort sailed too high, missing the target.

Another chance soon followed as 16-year-old Shumaira Mheuka controlled an Alex Matos pass, weaving his way into the box before drilling a low strike at goal. Unfortunately, it drifted inches wide of the far post.

Chelsea’s defence was then called into action, with Bes Topalloj emerging as a threat. Dribbling up the pitch, Topalloj unleashed a powerful shot as he entered the area, but Samuels-Smith extended his leg just in time to divert the effort.

The Blues almost regained the lead when Vale whipped in an impressive free-kick from just outside the area. Mheuka made perfect contact with a header, but Long produced a fine save.

Waited long enough

Chelsea kept up the pressure, with Dyer becoming more lively. Using his skillful footwork, he weaved through a group of Bromley defenders and flicked the ball towards goal. Vale initially fired a powerful shot, but it bounced off the woodwork. However, he quickly moved into an open space behind the Bromley keeper and tapped the rebound over the line from close range.

We maintained dominance, playing fluid and clever football. It was clear we were in control for the remainder of the first half. Vale and Dyer continued to cause problems and look for more, both taking shots on target, but the scoreline remained the same as the teams headed into the interval.

The second half started just as the first had – quick-paced. Mheuka had the first real chance at goal, linking up well with Vale. The 21-year-old twisted and turned away from his marker to set up a short pass to our young striker. The low shot was saved by Long, who did well to get down quickly.

Chelsea dominated the early stages of the second half, with Matos pressing aggressively and covering the pitch. Hughes came agonisingly close to scoring with a powerful shot inside the area, but somehow the Bromley keeper managed to deny him.

Bromley eventually found their rhythm at home. Sowunmi had a close chance from a Lewis Leigh curled corner, with his effort nearly finding the net but going just wide of the post. Kaiden Wilson showed excellent defending soon after, when Cameron Congreve, in a dangerous position, smashed a shot at goal. Wilson intervened, ensuring Chelsea’s back line remained secure.

Pressure? What pressure?

It didn’t take long for Chelsea to extend our lead, with Vale securing his brace through a composed strike. Hughes provided another fine ball, feeding Vale in the centre of the box. Vale wasted no time, slotting the ball into the bottom corner, beating Long.

The home side fought back and Charles unexpectedly added his name to the scoresheet with a long curled strike from distance that sailed beyond Merrick’s reach into the top corner.

Substitute Jimmy-Jay Morgan made an immediate impact, working well with Vale inside the area. He almost connected perfectly with a Vale cut-back, but the chance lacked the power to beat Long in goal.

Throughout the rest of the match, the Blues fought hard, linking up well to ensure we brought all three EFL Trophy points back to Cobham.

What's next

Chelsea Under-21s will next be in action on Friday evening as we turn our focus back to Premier League 2 action, when we face West Ham United at Rush Green in a 7pm kick-off.

The teams

Chelsea (3-4-1-2): Max Merrick; Brodi Hughes, Kaiden Wilson, Travis Akomeah; Richard Olise, Alex Matos, Kiano Dyer, Ishe Samuels-Smith; Harvey Vale (c); Donnell McNeilly (Ato Ampah 72), Shumaira Mheuka (Jimmy-Jay Morgan 77)
Unused subs: Kai Crampton, Somto Boniface, Reiss Denny, Samuel Rak-Sakyi, Zain Silcott-Duberry
Scorers: McNeilly 3, Vale 27, 77
Booked: McNeilly 35

Bromley (3-4-1-2): Sam Long, Ashley Charles, Omar Sowunmi, Lewis Leigh (Olufela Olomola 72), Marcus Dinanga (Nathan Paul-Lavaly 72), Louis Dennis (Jude Arthurs h-t), Taylor Foran (c), Levi Amantchi, Cameron Congreve, Bes Topalloj, Idris Odutayo (Josh Thomas 72)
Unused subs: Grant Smith, George Penn, Frankie Moralee
Scorers: Amantchi 7, Charles 81
Booked: Odutayo 23, Leigh 64