Under-21s: Reading v United

A Sam Mather strike and two Gabriele Biancheri finishes either side of the break established a clear advantage for the young Reds and, after Emmanuel Osho netted to give the Royals hope, James Scanlon netted to seal the win for Travis Binnion's team.

Mather capitalised on an error from Reading keeper Tom Norcott and both Biancheri goals were well-worked moves from United but when Osho scored a deflected shot, it looked to give the hosts some momentum.

The young Reds remained composed and James Scanlon beat Norcott in added time, confirming three points on the road for our Under-21s.

FIRST HALF - CLINICAL REDS GET AHEAD

Our Under-21s began the match against Reading with plenty of purpose, applying pressure on their defence from the off.

Despite this, it was the hosts who had the first opportunity when Tyler Sackey broke into the box and got a sight of goal. United captain Tyler Fredricson got his body in the way to thwart the Reading forward.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Louis Jackson thumped the ball in behind from defence, looking for Mather. Royals keeper Norcott rushed out and was dispossessed by the Reds attacker, and Mather curled the ball into an empty net to give United the advantage. 

Reading responded through Osho and Sackey, but the latter skied his effort from inside the box.

As the interval came into view, there was a concern for the Reds when right-back Habeeb Ogunneye went down and was forced off with an injury.

But no sooner had play restarted, Mather found Biancheri in the box following a fast break and the striker slotted beyond Norcott to double United's lead.

SECOND HALF - KICKING ON

Reading tried to spring an instant response after the interval, with Adrian Akande cutting in from the left before having his shot blocked by Fredricson.

United dealt with the pressure before adding a third. Slick link-up play down the left resulted in Scanlon taking aim from the edge of the box, and when the winger's shot was parried by Norcott, Mather reacted to cross the ball from the left to Biancheri for his second of the game.

The Reds looked the most likely to add the fourth goal of the game after that finish, but Tommy Rowe had to be on hand thwart Reading with a big block, setting Mather and Biancheri away on a counter-attack that finished with the latter testing Norcott again.

Osho gave the Royals hope of a comeback in the 73rd minute, controlling from Boyd Beacroft's low cross before beating Elyh Harrison with a deflected shot.

But despite that glimmer for the hosts, Scanlon's effort beat Norcott - via a Reading defender - to restore United's three-goal lead.

Harrison was forced into action in the dying moments but the closing stages were managed professionally by Binnion's young side, seeing out a 4-1 win at the home of Reading's senior team.

MATCH DETAILS

United XI: Harrison, Ogunneye (Mantato 38), Jackson (Munro 69), Fredricson (c), Murray, Kone, Rowe, T.Fletcher (Ibragimov 84), Scanlon, Biancheri, Mather (Ajayi 84).

Subs not used: Graczyk.

Goals: Mather 10, Biancheri 39, 53, Scanlon 90+1.

Reading XI: Norcott, Beacroft, Holzman, Kanu (Senga 68), Source (Clarke 77), Spencer (Wellins 77), Borgnis, Osho (Okine-Peters 77), Sackey, Akande, Tuma.

Subs not used: Rhone.

Goal: Osho 73.