The Young Blues haven't won The Cup for more than 40 years and have only progressed beyond the 4th Round once in the last decade. Last night they crashed out of this season's competition 2-0 to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge and the scoreline hardly reflected Villa's superiority.

The crowd of just over 400 could have been lost inside a stadium that holds 42,000 but they made plenty of noise. Some Villa fans had even made the trip down to support their youngsters, who have a good pedigree in The Youth Cup and won it in 2002.

The match started in drizzle and the visitors were quickly in control. Luke Moore, with Shane Paul playing just off him, was a constant threat in attack and Steven Foley was showing some classy touches in midfield.

Moore (pictured left playing for England), a scorer in the 2002 Final, broke free of the home defence on 14 minutes and sent in a powerful left-footer that Yves Makabu-Ma-Kalambay (one of the longest names in football) pushed round for a corner at full stretch.

The giant 'keeper with the enormous gloves saved his team on several occasions in the first half but was finally beaten by a penalty a minute before the break. As Chelsea tried desperately to clear their lines after Foley's corner from the right had curled in, Villa defender Magnus Troest was clearly tripped inside the box. Adrian Pettigrew, who had already been booked, saw red this time and that was hardly going to help Chelsea's cause. Moore slammed in the spot-kick.

Chelsea had been limited as an attacking force in the opening half. Anthony Grant's effort from outside the box thudded into an advertising hoarding in the Upper Tier. A later shot from similar distance only missed by inches but their best chance came after Michele Gallaccio and Philip Younghusband found themselves two-on-one in the final third. The latter swiftly transferred the ball to the former but he pulled his shot well wide of the far post.

Villa were home and dry after another Luke Moore goal six minutes into the second half. Jamie Ward, wide on the right, pushed the ball into Moore's path and the Chelsea defence suddenly opened up for the tall striker to strike a shot well beyond the 'keeper's reach.

Heads dropped a little after this setback and the visitors could have added three or four goals to their total. Moore always seem to lose out to the last defender at the end of jinking runs into the box and England Under-17 star Paul was twice denied by the elastic Makabu-Ma-Kalambay.

Chelsea finished a well-beaten team and Villa will be one of the sides to beat in this season's Youth Cup. In Round 4 they will play Wimbledon or Torquay United at home.

Teams

Chelsea: Makabu-Ma-Kalambay, Smith D., Hudell, Hollands, Brand, Pettigrew, Smith J., Grant (Morais), Gallaccio, Simmonds (Tillen), Younghusband (Mancienne)

Aston Villa: Olejnik, Green N. (McDonald), Green P., Troest, Cahill, Foley, Kabeya Tshimanga, Ward, Moore, Paul, Nix

Referee: Alison Chapman
Attendance: 404