Sheldon Baptiste’s side hosted near-neighbours Reading YMCA for their latest fixture in the Thames Valley Premier League, hoping to claim the first three points of their campaign. Five new players entered the Starting XI, including first-team players and those who have featured previously for our Under 18’s.

Our Cityzens got the game underway, looking to be clinical and close down the game early. Andrew Tafeni and Ernest Sturman claim the first attempts of the game, but sadly they amounted to nothing.

YMCA intensified their attacks in the eighth minute, with William Longmatey and James Ashu clearing the danger. Only a minute later, YMCA opened their scoring with a shot from just inside the box from their number 9, Joel Burton. Shouts for offside rang around the ground, but the referee confirmed the goal. 

The visitors continued their high intensity following this, and City’s midfield battled to dispossess them. A long-range shot from outside the box entered the net by Jahmal Robinson in the 15th minute, making it two goals for the opposition.

City’s number 9, Omar Carrington struck the ball goalwards moments later, but it was headed out for a City corner. On the counter, YMCA pushed up-field, and a slight touch from City defender Cohen Benn saw the ball roll into the back of the net, unfortunately adding to the scoreline.

A City attack saw a chance to respond to the latest goal, but YMCA’s ‘keeper, Kieran Lamb, tipped City’s closest chance yet over the top of the bar.

A triple substitution for the home side in the 20th minute saw Sheldon Baptiste bring on full-back Mickael Vaisset, attacker Reiss Baker and midfielder Charlie Gmiterek for Ernest Sturman, Kian Abery and Rjunior Palmer.

As we approached the half hour mark, forwards Carrington and Baker had close chances, but couldn’t get past YMCA’s backline. A free kick from outside the box was claimed easily by City keeper Jonathan O’Sullivan.

Forward Joel Burton doubled his scoring tally for YMCA in the 33rd minute, making it 4-0 to the visitors, piling more pressure onto City.

But City never gave up, trying to find a way back in to the game. Chances from Baker, Ashu, Bless Him-Kimpiats, Gmiterek and Vaisset all came close, but none could reach the back of the net.

In the third minute of added time, the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of a difficult, action-packed first half for our Cityzens.

Half time: City U23s 0-4 Reading YMCA

A substitution at the break saw defender Philip Veal exit play, with Jamaal Whight entering the fray for a straight swap.

The visitors kicked off the second half, and shortly after, YMCA made it five, following another counter attack. Baptiste brought on City’s final substitution of the game, replacing Him-Kimpiats with Matthew Williamson.

Set pieces proved to be crucial for City after the break, with our closest chances coming from free kicks and corners. The 53rd minute saw Gmiterek send a free kick into the box towards Longmatey, but he just headed wide. 

YMCA shots are cast into the box, but they drift just wide of the post. A final follow-up shot was caught by O’Sullivan, who clutched the ball close to his chest.

As we enter the final thirty minutes, City claw one back, scoring their first goal of the campaign. A beautiful build-up in play allows Gmiterek to reach the edge of the eighteen-yard box and he sends in a long-range shot centrally. Lamb falters, and can’t secure the ball quick enough. Baker takes a touch and gets it in the net as a consolation for our young Cityzens.

This spurs on City, and Baker and Tafeni team up on the edge of the box to produce another long-range shot. Lamb just reaches, punching it away to knock it out for a City corner. Gmiterek curls it towards the penalty spot, but it couldn’t reach anyone specifically. On the counter, Tafeni switches a cross to Carrington, but he narrowly misses the intended target.

A short break in play occurs after Carrington and YMCA’s Bradley Hyde collide. The visitors make a triple substitution after both players are deemed to not require treatment. O’Sullivan makes a key save as the visitors run down the right wing and aim from 20 yards out.

Gmiterek and Ashu both send curling shots towards YMCA’s net, but both strikes fly over the top of the bar. Carrington flicked the ball onto Baker, but Lamb sprinted out to claim it before the chance could be finished.

Ashu forces YMCA’s Kyle Smithurst to take a touch to send the ball out for a City corner. Another punch from Lamb prevents the shot, and City scramble to reclaim the ball, but can’t recover. Back-to-back set pieces saw more close chances arrive for City, but late touches and a deflection from YMCA ended the attack.

A well-organised press off the back of a YMCA mishap sees City get the ball into the net again. However, as it rolls over the goal line, the linesman calls it offside and it doesn’t stand.

The final chance of the match came to Gmiterek in the form of another corner, which was hit towards the back of the post, but was sadly just out of reach.

The referee called time, and a tough afternoon came to an end. YMCA steal all three points from the encounter, and City are left wondering if the outcome could have been different if they had closed down the game in the first half.

Full Time: City U23s 1-5 Reading YMCA

We dust ourselves off and return after a week-long break for our Under 23s first away fixture of the season, as they take on Maidenhead Town on the road.