Stevenage Borough confirmed their place as group winners with a thrilling 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace's Under-21 side in the English Football League Trophy on October 22, 2025. The match at the Lamex Stadium was a goal-fest, with Stevenage's attacking power proving too much for the young Eagles. Stevenage raced into a multi-goal lead, but Palace U21 showed resilience to pull two goals back and threaten a comeback. However, Stevenage reasserted their dominance with late goals to put a flattering gloss on the scoreline. The result capped a perfect group stage for Stevenage, who advanced with maximum points, while Palace U21's campaign ended without a win.