A first win in 2025! Three goals, three goal scorers and three points in our first away match of the year. A proud moment for all of those involved, with a fantastic showing from the team and management.

Despite being unable to be at the game, I felt as if there should be a roundup of the action nonetheless. This win allowed our Under 23s to move a position up the table, overtaking Slough Heating Laurencians and ending up in twelfth. Albeit slightly shorter than usual, here is a summary of last Saturday’s action!

Team News:

Three changes to the starting XI, with Archie Denton, Finley Meikle and Declan Joyce entering the side in place of Mickael Vaisset, Cohen Benn and Keigan Allen. Reiss Baker and Taha Menshawi began this match out on the bench, alongside debutant midfielder Joe Latch. 

Finley Meikle also donned the captain’s armband for today’s fixture. Starting out with the club from a young age, moving up the ranks from the U7s, before more recently becoming a regular for our Under 18s and 23s sides. As well as this, he has received call ups for Simon Johnson’s first team, earning a place on the bench in our firsts’ away fixture against Edgware and Kingsbury towards the end of December. This was a great achievement for all involved, and truly a great showing of the development pathway here at Reading City.

Alex Collie retained his place between the sticks, whilst Bless-Him Kimpiats, James Ashu, Charlie Gmiterek, Andrew Tafeni, Alfie Ward, Louis Eade and Jamie Barker all kept their places in the starting lineup from last time out against Westwood.

Kick-Off: Slough Heating Laurencians 0-0 City U23s

The game began as a fairly evenly contested affair, with both sides having shots on goal searching for the opener.

A first half goal from midfielder Jamie Barker opened the scoring for our young Cityzens, allowing our boys in blue to have the advantage going into the interval. 

Half Time: Slough Heating Laurencians 0-1 City U23s

Only mere minutes into the second half, Andrew Tafeni doubled our lead at the Polish Association through a wonderful build up in play across the channels and through the middle.

A confident showing from the team, and it seemed as if the floodgates had opened, with youngster Reiss Baker netting our third of the afternoon after hitting Slough on the break. 

With around ten minutes left on the clock, with Tafeni searching for his brace, our opposition’s Lee Canavan received a red card for a foul, denying our forward a goal scoring opportunity. With the home side down to ten in the last few moments of the game, City were confident they would keep their lead.

As the whistle blew signalling the end of the 90, it was a fantastic afternoon out for our lads, with assistant manager Mimi Olaide receiving his first victory as manager after stepping in for Sheldon Baptiste. A goal from a set piece providing crucial in our efforts for the points, with goal contributions coming from multiple areas around the pitch.

Full Time: Slough Heating Laurencians 0-3 City U23s

A third clean sheet also this season for Alex Collie, who has proven to be a staple at the back for our Under 23s side thus far.

A comprehensive victory ahead of the return fixture will leave our side in good spirits for next Saturday as we welcome the Lauries to RG30.

Thank you to all supporters who came to back the boys this weekend, as well as Slough Heating Laurencians for being brilliant hosts – we look forward to seeing you down Scours Lane! A notable mention to Jason Collie also for providing updates throughout the game.