An early goal in the first five minutes of the game by Tope Fadahunsi was enough to see the League Two outfit secure three points.

Despite being second-best for most of the game, it was the home team that broke the deadlock early on with a well-timed finish beyond Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

We had several chances to level and even possibly win the game, with Omari Hutchinson having our best chance following fine play between him, Cesare Caadei and Mason Burstow, but goalkeeper Brad House saved well.

To make matters worse, debutant Casadei was given a second yellow card after deliberately handling the ball as he pulled up with cramp late on.

Team news

Jimi Tauriainen was given his first start of the season at this level this season as he was paired alongside Lewis Hall in midfield.

Meanwhile, one of our newest signings of the summer Casadei was given his Chelsea debut after joining from Inter Milan earlier this month, and Sharman-Lowe was also handed a start.

Unexpected blow

Our young Blues started confidently and almost took the lead as the new signing combined with Dion Rankine with the debutant’s effort almost finding the top corner of the net.

Despite the promising start it was Sutton who took the lead as a simple through-ball caused a split in our defence and Fadahunsi capitalised, easing Bashir Humphreys out the way and slotting past Sharman-Lowe in the Chelsea goal.

Summer recruits shining

We did not let the goal disrupt our early pressure as we were showing great attacking intent, Casadei again in the mix with a half-chance as his header was deflected making it easy for the Sutton keeper to collect.

The pressure was creating chances for our young Blues and Hutchinson almost found the net with an intelligent chip from just outside the box which required a back-pedalling House to tip over the bar.

Soon after, a lofted ball into the box from Josh Brooking found a stretching Hutchinson, who teed up Burstow in the area. Yet with the goal gaping, the young forward could not connect sufficiently to send the ball on target, which was a huge let-off for Sutton.

Getting closer

Hutchinson was in the thick of the action again as he dispossessed Rob Milsom on the edge of the area and his eventual shot was saved well by House.

It was the former Arsenal man who was looking most likely to give us an equaliser as once again he got the better of his man to cut in onto his left foot, but his curled attempt whistled just past the post. Despite our efforts the half would end with us trailing by one goal to nil.

The second period followed a similar pattern to the first with our development squad probing in and around the Sutton box. Finding the penetration needed to get a goal, however, was proving difficult. Burstow was next to try his luck with a long-range strike but he could only find the gloves of the goalkeeper.

The former Charlton man very quickly found himself in another dangerous position as he nipped ahead of Louis John, and it looked like the centre-back fouled the young forward, but the referee waved away claims of a foul.

The U's created their first real chance 20 minutes before the end of the game as a fast counter-attack resulted in Enzo Boldewijn side-footing an effort which hit the crossbar.

Chance galore

We created another chance to draw level as Hutchinson easily beat his man crossing dangerously into the box, a lovely lay-off from Casadei found Humphreys but he blasted over.

Our development squad were struggling to open their account as Hutchinson went close again. A move started by Casadei found Burstow in the area and with a lovely first-time flick he put the ball in the path of Hutchinson, but his shot was saved well by House.

The intensity of the game reduced as The U's were seeing the game out well. Our task of grabbing an equaliser was made more difficult as despite a very impressive debut Casadei, already on a booking, deliberately handled the ball after pulling up with cramp.

The home side almost capitalised as their second-half substitute Charley Kendall beat Dylan Williams and delivered a wicked cross which almost found Fadahunsi. The match would end 1-0 and despite being on top for most of the game, our young Blues failed to find the goal they deserved.

We will next be in action in this competition against Oxford United on Tuesday 4 October. Before then, it's a PL2 trip to Everton this weekend.

Academy news

Luke Badley-Morgan has completed a move to Stoke City. The young central defender played several games under Ed Brand last season, featuring in the Under-18 Premier League as well as the FA Youth cup team that reached the semi-final.

He also made an appearance in the UEFA Youth League away at Juventus and has also featured for Jamaica’s Under-20 team.

Chelsea (3-4-3) Ted Sharman-Lowe; Josh Brooking, Alfie Gilchrist, Bashir Humphreys (c); Dion Rankine, Jimi Tauriainen (Harvey Vale 64), Lewis Hall (Ben Elliott 90+4), Zak Sturge (Dylan Williams 79); Cesare Casadei, Omari Hutchinson (Jude Soonsup-Bell 79), Mason Burstow (Leo Castledine 79)
Unused subs Brodi Hughes, Ted Curd
Booked Brooking 11; Casadei 75; Gilchrist 90+5
Sent off Casadei 85

Sutton United(4-3-3) Brad House; Jon Barden, Sam Hart (Rob Milsom 7), Louis John (Craig Eastmond 63), Enzio Boldewijn, Alistair Smith, Harry Beautyman (c), Tope Fadahunsi, Luke Gambin (Josh Neufville 76), Joe Kizzi (Coby Rowe 63), Kylian Kouassi (Charley Kendall 76)
Unused subs Jack Rose, Kwame Thomas
Scorers Fadahunsi 5
Booked Milsom 86; Smith 90+1