Papa John’s Trophy: Quarter-Final Round-up as Wembley beckons for remaining clubs

Eight has become four in the Papa John’s Trophy with the semi-final line-up of the competition now confirmed after Tuesday’s night’s quarter-final ties across the country. 

Two sides from League One and two from League Two are now just 90 minutes, plus the possibility of a penalty shootout, away from the final and a trip to Wembley. Here’s are a round-up of how the quarter-final ties panned out.

Hartlepool United 2-2 Charlton Athletic (5-4 on penalties) 

Promoted up from the National League via the play-off final last season, Hartlepool’s cup heroics this term roar on with another superb victory.

Prior to last night, Graeme Lee’s side had already beaten opponents from a higher division on four occasions. They knocked Wycombe Wanderers and Blackpool out of the FA Cup, as well as eliminating Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers from the Papa John’s Trophy.

Now that number is up to five with a victory over League One Charlton at the Suit Direct Stadium providing the biggest upset of the quarter-finals.

Joe Grey and Luke Molyneux were on the scoresheet over the 90 minutes for the North-East based side, with the latter one of five Pools players to convert successfully when the penalty shootout came around.

Experienced midfielder Elliot Lee was the guilty party for the visitors on the night, missing his penalty and paying the price for it.

Hartlepool did not get to play at Wembley in last year’s play-off final, but they are within touching distance now.

Sutton United 1-0 Harrogate Town

As with Hartlepool, Sutton are also new boys to the Football League after winning the National League title in the last campaign.

They are flying high in League Two, sitting in fourth in the league table, and are still going strong in the Papa John’s Trophy after securing their place in the last four with a win over Harrogate.

In a tight encounter between two teams who ply their trade in the same division, U’s midfielder Craig Eastmond netted 10 minutes from time to secure the win for Matt Gray’s side.

They are now unbeaten in seven outings in all competitions and are the only club of the four remaining in the competition flying the flag for the south.

The journey time from Gander Green Lane to Wembley is not a long one but Gray and his side would undoubtedly make that journey a thousand times over for a shot at silverware on the big stage.

Rotherham United 1-1 Cambridge United (8-7 on penalties)

Another meeting between two sides in the same division came at the AESSEAL New York Stadium as Rotherham overcame fellow League One outfit Cambridge, though it took penalties for that to happen.

The Millers were a Championship club last season and have pedigree in this competition, winning it in 1996 at the Old Wembley. In contrast, Cambridge earned promotion from League Two in the last campaign and have focused more this season on successfully avoiding the drop, which they look to be doing comfortably.

Both sides rotated their squads for the meeting in Yorkshire with Wes Harding’s opener for the hosts cancelled out by Paul Digby’s leveller prior to the half-time whistle.

That is how it stayed come full-time and the two sides prepared for a penalty shootout. Cambridge goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was recently in the spotlight for his heroics in goal during the side’s FA Cup win at Newcastle United.

He turned sharp-shooter this time around after converting a spot-kick. Even that was not enough to foil Rotherham though as Paul Warne’s side tucked home seven in a row before Cambridge’s Adam May missed.

Rotherham won both the 2014 and 2018 League One play-off finals at Wembley, and they would not say no to another trip this term, though promotion will remain the main target.

Wigan Athletic 1-0 Arsenal Under-21s 

Perhaps the least surprising result of the four games at this stage of the Papa John’s Trophy, League One table-toppers Wigan got the better of Arsenal’s academy side at the DW stadium.

Interestingly, the Gunners were pulled out of the hat first in this draw, but as per competition rules, the Football League side always play hosts when up against an academy outfit.

Now unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions, Leam Richardson made the most of the opportunity to rotate his Latics squad against the youthful Gunners.

Son of former Liverpool player turned pundit Jamie Carragher, James Carragher started at the back for Wigan though they also included some regular first-teamers from the off including Max Power and Thelo Aasgaard.

In the end, Divin Baningime scored the winner to knock the only remaining academy side out of the competition, meaning it remains the case that only Chelsea (2017/18) have provided an under-21 team that has made it into the last four of the Football League Trophy.

Before the quarter-final tie, many favoured the Latics to go on and win the competition. With their current form and squad, all roads seem to point to success. Notably, they have won it twice before in both 1985 and 1999.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Papa John’s Trophy will be made on Saturday evening (January 29) live on Sky Sports following the conclusion of Peterborough United vs Sheffield United (5:30pm kick-Off).

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