As a result of the club’s involvement in the FA Youth Cup which some of our Under 18s feature in as part of a combined squad alongside representatives from club partner John Madejski Academy’s Football Performance Programme, prior to Wednesday night’s clash against Windsor and Eton our youngsters haven’t been in Allied Counties Youth Football League action for over a month.

Our youngsters came into this game knowing that three points would allow them to begin chasing the pack, with four games in hand over current league leaders Binfield and started the game brightly, causing problems for our hosts Windsor and Eton from the off.

Despite causing issues from the off our first real chance didn’t come until the nineteenth minute when Louis Eade danced his way towards goal with some fancy footwork before taking a shot on goal, which forced a great save from Harry Fountain in goal for the Royalists.

It wasn’t long until we were knocking on the door again, with twenty two minutes on the clock Keigan Allen was able to drive towards goal, before trying to cross but the Royalists defence saw that our attack was fizzled out.

Keigan Allen continued to cause Windsor and Eton problems as he forced another good save out of Harry Fountain with twenty six minutes on the clock.

Our long-awaited opening goal game shortly after the half hour mark thanks to a screamer from Lucas Taplin. He took a shot from about eighteen yards out on the left and ball curled perfectly to beat Royalists keeper Harry Fountain.

HALF TIME: Windsor & Eton 0 v Reading City 1

With the referee calling time on the first half, our youngsters went in at the break with a well deserved lead having been on top throughout the first half.

With the second half underway, City continued with the same intensity they demonstrated in the first half and with fifty four minutes on the clock, Keigan Allen was able to drive goalwards only to be met by the Royalists defence who cleared any effort away from danger, giving us a corner in the process. The corner however came to nothing.

After an intense fifty-five minutes it was time for some fresh legs with a double substitution as Adam Goodwin and Joe Corker replaced Keigan Allen and Archie Friday.

Just after the hour mark our youngsters earnt their second goal of the evening and goalscorer Lucas Taplin earnt himself a brace.

It wasn’t long until we would score again as with sixty two minutes on the clock, Reiss Baker got our third goal of the evening in a well worked move which started started with Charlie Mills passing the ball to Adam Goodwin who was able to drive the ball goalwards before crossing the ball across the box where it found Louis Eade, who laid it off to Reiss Baker to fire it home.

With sixty eight minutes on the clock, it was time for another double substition from City as Charlie Gmiterek and Will Norton replace Jay Herbert and Finley Meikle.

With seventy five minutes on the clock, Windsor and Eton pulled a goal back against the run of play with Max Hilton putting the ball past City keeper Leo Wilkinson.

With ten minutes remaining, City weren’t relenting and were hungry for more goals. Adam Goodwin was able to drive goalwards having recieved the ball from Charlie Gmiterek, Goodwin then past the ball to Louis Eade but it came to nothing.

In the eighty first minute Lucas Taplin who was having a terrific performance, forced a great save out of Harry Fountain in the Windsor and Eton goal with a powerful free kick.

Hungry for his hat-trick, Lucas Taplin continued to cause problems in the closing minutes and was eventually rewarded in the ninetieth minute and took home the match ball having restored our three goal lead.

FULL TIME: Windsor & Eton 1 v Reading City 4

The referee called time on proceedings and our young Cityzens were jubilant having secured their first three points of their Allied Counties Football League Central Division campaign.

Our youngsters are back in action on Tuesday evening at the Rivermoor when they host North Leigh in the First Round of the Allied Counties Youth Football League Cup.