The game kicked off with City Youth in their dark blue strip, attacking from right to left. The early signs were positive, and it took just 7 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. A well-weighted ball was played through the centre, and Newton showed great composure to outpace his marker and slot the ball past the keeper to give City the lead.
Woodley nearly responded just minutes later, forcing a strong save from Deller-Law, who tipped a long-range effort over the bar at full stretch.
At the other end, pressure continued to mount. Primavera was relentless in the press, almost catching out the Woodley goalkeeper as the ball bobbled awkwardly at his feet. The Woodley defence were living dangerously, and in 20 minutes, a series of close-range shots were somehow kept out during a frantic goalmouth scramble.
City’s pressure finally told again in the 33rd minute. Primavera floated a corner to the far post, where Decade Menshawi met it with a clean volley across goal and into the far corner to double the advantage.
Just minutes later, Newton again broke the offside trap and managed to force a save after the ball slipped through the goalkeeper’s legs and rolled agonisingly towards the by-line.
The conditions were proving difficult for defenders, and City capitalised again on 40 minutes. A ball over the top with some assistance from the wind fell kindly for Newton, who coolly finished his second of the day to make it 0–3.
There was still time for a fourth before the break. Deller-Law claimed a routine cross and launched a long clearance that bounced awkwardly for the Woodley backline. Hahn reacted quickest and finished neatly into the far corner to make it 0–4 at half-time.
HALF-TIME: Woodley United Development 0 – 4 Reading City
The second half picked up where the first left off, with City firmly in control. Woodley had their chances, notably on 50 minutes when their #9 glanced a cross just wide. But the next goal was inevitable, and it came through the red-hot Newton on 60 minutes, completing his hat trick with a tidy finish after another flowing move.
Just three minutes later, Newton was at it again. Some silky passing carved open the Woodley defence, and Newton fired in his fourth of the afternoon, this time off the post and into the top corner, a sublime finish.
City weren’t done. On 73 minutes, Hahn added his second of the game, lifting the ball over the stranded keeper from outside the box to make it 0-7.
Five minutes later, MacDonald got in on the act, unleashing a powerful strike from distance that nestled into the far corner, a goal that surely made his father, Tain MacDonald, proud on the touchline.
There was still time for one more moment of magic from Newton. A late scramble in the box on 90 minutes saw the striker pounce again, finishing high into the net to round off his fifth goal of the game and complete a comprehensive 0–9 victory.
FULL-TIME: Woodley United Development 0 – 9 Reading City
This was a statement win for City Youth, a blend of clinical finishing, strong pressing, and tactical discipline, all played out under challenging wind conditions. Newton will rightly grab the headlines with his five-goal haul, but it was a real team performance from front to back.
After the match, we caught up with City Youth manager Tain MacDonald, who shared his thoughts on the win and what’s ahead:
- How pleased are you with the team’s current form and the 0–9 victory over Woodley United Development?
“Yes, the result was the perfect tonic considering we had a bare 11 and obviously no subs. Several players were playing unfamiliar roles — Kiyan (Newton) for instance is an out-and-out pacey winger, but we asked him to play centrally as a lone striker. At this level, I knew he would be too much for them, and obviously, five goals shows that.”
2. Next up is league leaders AFC Aldermaston Reserves — how are you preparing for that match?
“We’ll go into the game with hopefully a bigger squad. There are six players out at the moment, but a couple are close to making a comeback this week, fingers
