Wanderers can still qualify for the knock-out stages of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy but will need to take something from their last group game after failing to beat Aston Villa’s youngsters, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites at least avoided a first defeat to U21 opposition in the competition thanks to Victor Adeboyejo’s late equaliser.
But after seeing a 12-game winning home run in the Trophy ended, Ian Evatt’s men then lost the penalty shoot-out to allow Villa to claim the extra point and top Group D.
Kyle Dempsey was Wanderers' only scorer as Aaron Collins and George Thomason both saw their spot-kicks saved by Villa keeper Oliwier Zych, who had one of the nights of his life, while his young team-mates kept their nerve to convert all four of their efforts and put the Midlanders on the brink of reaching the knock-out phase for the first time.
Wanderers can also make it if they take at least a couple of points from Fleetwood in their final fixture but will have to play better than they did in failing to find the killer instinct needed to win a game they should have done so comfortably.
With five players away on international duty, Wanderers were still able to name a strong starting line-up which included Klaidi Lolos for the first time since the first day of the season and Luke Hutchinson in goal to make a senior debut.
Luke Matheson was also given a chance to feature with a first start of the season and the young wing-back was one of the better performers in a first half dominated by Wanderers but which ended with Villa leading.
The visitors had a very youthful look about them and rarely got out of their half in the opening 45 minutes but did so once to great effect with just over half an hour gone.
Brad Burrowes made the decisive break down the right-hand side and his deep cross was perfectly delivered for Trai-Varn Mulley to climb and direct an excellent header into the back of the net.
That apart, it was a tale of missed chances and brilliant goalkeeping from Villa captain Zych before the break.
The Poland international enjoyed an inspired first 45 minutes, setting the tone with a block from Aaron Collins inside the opening few seconds and then saving the best for brilliant stops from a Lolos header and a Collins pile-driver.
Zych also kept out a near-post flick from John McAtee, as well as seeing Randell Williams scoop a close-range effort over the top and Collins and McAtee steer efforts wide of the target from inviting positions.
The second half continued in similar vein terms of territorial advantage, although chances weren’t so prevalent against 11 men behind the ball from the young Villains who sensed the possibility of a notable result and ran themselves into the ground.
Wanderers saw all of the ball but couldn’t find the right pass or deliver it well enough to find a way through the wall of claret shirts.
A succession of corners came to nothing, although one delivery from Collins did clip the far post and with 13 minutes to go the Whites hit the woodwork again from a superbly struck long-range Dempsey free-kick from virtually the substitute’s first touch.
That was as close as Wanderers had come to an equaliser and moments later their pressure finally did pay off when Adeboyejo headed the equaliser.
Collins provided the latest in a string of crosses and this time Adeboyejo showed the strength to get his head to the ball and nod into the bottom corner from eight yards out.
Dempsey then fired just wide as he provided his usual dose of energy to try and force a late winner but Wanderers couldn’t rediscover their early zest to avoid a penalty shoot-out which saw a disappointing night end on a low note as Villa’s young prospects rightly took the plaudits.
Wanderers: Hutchinson; Dacres-Cogley, Almeida Santos, Johnston; Matete (Dempsey 75); Matheson, Lolos (Adeboyejo 63), Thomason, Williams (Inwood 75); Collins, McAtee. Substitutes: Dallimore, Sharples-Ahmed, Lewis, Abimbola.
Booked: Johnston
Aston Villa U21s: Zych; Simpson, Amundsen-Day, Routh, Fortes; Borland, Barnes (Quinn 71); Burrowes, Lynskey (Edwards 57), Jenner (Brannigan 65); Mulley. Substitutes: Lewis, Timson, Carroll, Bloomfield.
Booked: Zych (2), Barnes
Referee: Aaron Bannister
Attendance: 1,767 (140 away)