U18 Report: Reading 0-9 Saints
Southampton Under-18s put on a show against Reading to secure a dominant 9-0 win in the Under-18s Premier League on Saturday.
Hat-tricks for a Trialist and Sam Amo-Ameyaw saw them heavily involved with everything going forward for a strong Saints side.
Single goals for Jay Robinson, Princewill Ehibhatiomhan and Nick Oyekunle added a deserved, convincing look to the scoreline.
Jayden Meghoma captained a strong Saints side. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)
It was Reading who started the game in lively fashion and they saw their first shot from Andre Garcia blocked behind.
However, Saints had the ideal opportunity to take the lead when Amo-Ameyaw was taken down in the box and picked himself up to take the subsequent penalty, but his spot-kick cannoned off the post and away from danger.
Saints, who benefitted from fielding a lineup with first-team and Under-21s experience, enjoyed good spells of possession following the penalty miss before Amo-Ameyaw made amends on 25 minutes.
The winger, who had found plenty of space to run in behind the Reading backline on the right, latched onto Tommy Dobson-Ventura’s measured pass and placed a calm finish into the far corner.
It was almost two in the following move as Amo-Ameyaw looked to turn provider, sliding a pass through for Robinson who chipped an effort onto the top of the crossbar.
After further chances from Amo-Ameyaw and Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez had gone close, Saints found their second when they stole the ball from Reading on the edge of the penalty area, allowing the Trialist to fire a left footed shot across goal and in.
The third then arrived in the following attack when Robinson linked with Amo-Ameyaw after overlapping on the right and smashed the ball into the bottom corner to leave home goalkeeper Harrison Rhone with no chance.
A dominant first half for Saints was complete when they scored their fourth as the Trialist turned home a rebound from close range.
Jay Robinson fires home.
Reading started the second period well despite the scoreline, and looked determined to find a response; chances for their Trialist D and Joseph Barough saw them unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.
Soon after, it was 5-0 to Saints as another move down the right produced a chance for the Trialist to complete his hat-trick with a calm, side-footed finish into the bottom corner.
The sixth arrived when the excellent Amo-Ameyaw combined with Robinson once more, before working himself room to shoot in the box and again finding the net for his second of the game.
Substitute Ehibhatiomhan fired home on 71 minutes to add the seventh, before Amo-Ameyaw finally completed his hat-trick with another smart finish just two minutes later.
Amo-Ameyaw celebrates his hat-trick.
With a final gloss to an already incredible scoreline, a ninth goal arrived late on when Jayden Meghoma’s cross was turned home by Oyekunle at close range.
Saints are in action again on Tuesday 23rd April when they travel to take on West Bromwich Albion in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off set for 12pm.
Reading: Rhone, Beacroft, Garcia (Trialist D 45), Trialist A, Trialist B, White, Saint-Louis, Howard (Nour 65), Trialist C (George 65), Barough, Jones.
Subs not used: Welland, Timberlake.
Yellow Cards: Jones.
Saints: Upstell, Williams, Dobson-Ventura, Fry (Moore 62), Meghoma (c), Miles, Amo-Ameyaw, Robinson, Gomes Rodriguez (Daley 62), Rohart-Brown (Oyekunle 62), Trialist (Ehibhatiomhan).
Subs not used: Abbotson.
Goals: Amo-Ameyaw 25, 61, 73, Trialist 33, 43, 55, Robinson 35, Ehibhatiomhan 71, Oyekunle 89.
