Crystal Palace Under-18s return to U18 Premier League South action on Saturday, 31 October, when they travel to arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion for an 11:00 GMT kick-off. Javier Alonso’s side are targeting a fourth successive victory in all competitions after an excellent run of form since the international break.
Palace kept their U18 Premier League Cup campaign alive with a 3-0 win over Leeds United before producing another emphatic result at Ipswich Town. Donte Martin’s hat-trick helped the Young Eagles to a 6-2 victory, and the forward repeated the feat against Reading last weekend.
Martin’s goals contributed to a 5-0 half-time lead at the Academy, with Makai Bernard-Ferguson and Jacob Fasida also finding the net. Reading fought back after the interval, scoring three times while Palace were reduced to nine men following red cards for Daniel Owoade and Alfie Mulvenna. Alonso’s team held on for a second consecutive league win and now sit 10th in the 16-team division with 10 points.
Palace will have to manage without both dismissed players at Brighton. Mulvenna is suspended for one match, while Owoade has received a two-match ban and will also miss the decisive U18 Premier League Cup fixture against Aston Villa. Their absences will be a consideration against a Brighton side that has scored 14 goals across its last four Premier League South victories.
The Seagulls have collected 16 points from eight league matches, winning five, drawing one and losing two. They most recently defeated Norwich City 4-2 after scoring four times in the second half. Brighton striker Chris Condy has scored four goals in eight appearances, while Carl Martin took charge of the club’s Under-18s during the summer after almost seven years with Southampton.
Palace have scored 14 goals across their last two league matches, leaving both teams entering the derby with considerable attacking momentum. The match will be shown live on Palace TV+, with coverage beginning at 10:45 GMT, while supporters can also follow commentary through the Academy’s X account. A match report, reaction and later highlights will be available through the club’s Academy coverage.
