Before a 45-minute cameo for the reserves at the weekend, the last time Richie Towell stepped onto the pitch for Brighton was back in May, when he came on as a sub in the playoff semi-final first leg against Sheffield Wednesday.
That playoff fixture was just his second overall appearance for the club. He would be an unused substitute for the second leg, as Brighton's hopes of reaching the Premier League came to an end.
Until tonight, the former Dundalk star had played just one half of football this season, having been kept sidelined by a knee injury until four days ago. He made his full comeback tonight for Chris Hughton's Brighton squad which hosted Leyton Orient in the reformed competition most famously known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, currently known as the Checkatrade Trophy.
Towell lined out for what is officially listed as a Brighton u23s squad against Orient's senior team in the new-look tournament, which now features reserve squads from Chelsea, Leicester, Southampton and other Premier League clubs. The 25-year-old, whose future at the club Chris Hughton addressed earlier this month, slammed the ball home after former Feyenoord striker Elvis Manu saw his effort come back off the post.
16: GOOAALL!! Towell opens the scoring. #BHAFC 1 #LOFC 0
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 8, 2016
16: GOOAALL!! Towell finishes brilliantly into the top corner, following Manu's effort that was cleared off the line. #BHAFC 1 #LOFC 0
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 8, 2016
As it turned out, Towell's goal was enough to earn Brighton the victory over London club Orient.
FT: Albion progress to the knockout stages of the @CheckatradeTrpy, thanks to Towell's neat first-half finish. #BHAFC 1 #LOFC 0
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 8, 2016
Towell scored 29 goals for Dundalk in their double-winning campaign last season, and it's great to see him rediscover his goalscoring touch for Brighton on his return from such a prolonged spell on the sidelines, even if it is for their development squad.
Here's hoping he can kick on for the remainder of the season, and perhaps even get a loan move in January if necessary.
