U18 Report: Saints 2-1 Reading

Reading deservedly led at the break at Staplewood through Shay Spencer’s powerful finish.

Saints pushed for an equaliser in the second half and it came through substitute Tommy Dobson-Ventura in the 80th minute.

Their late pressure then paid off in stoppage time when Harrison Miles struck the winning goal right at the death.

Harrison Miles struck the winner in stoppage time (Photo: Craig Hobbs)

There were few chances in the opening exchanges as both sides battled the blustery, wet conditions at Staplewood.

A dangerous low Alfie Prescott cross and a shot from the edge of the area from Harrison Miles were the only early openings for Saints.

At the other end, Max Fry made a fantastic last ditch tackle to deny Emmanuel Osho a shooting opportunity.

Princewill Ehibhatiomhan was denied the game’s opening goal in the 26th minute as he saw an attempt deflected away for a corner.

The visitors then enjoyed a spell of control and made it count just after the half hour; Jayden Moore was dispossessed to set up a counter attack that Spencer finished from inside the area.

Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez came close to a swift reply with a battling run and shot that was parried away.

Reading held their advantage into half time, but could have been two goals to the good if captain Boyd Beacroft diverted his stoppage time free header under the crossbar.

Gomes Rodriguez was a threat for Saints (Photo: Matt Watson)

Saints came out with a purpose as they hunted for an equaliser and should have levelled proceedings ten minutes into the second half when Gomes Rodriguez found Aston Daley in the area, but the latter fired just past the post.

Henry Upstell made an excellent save to keep the deficit at just one goal, diving to push a header from a corner away from danger.

Gomes Rodriguez was continuing to prove a threat from the right wing and saw a near post effort well saved with just over 20 minutes to play.

Reading were then inches away from putting the result beyond doubt but Moses Sesay was alert to clear Philip Duah’s header off the line.

From then on, Saints laid siege on the Reading goal and should have been level when Nicholas Oyekunle played Gomes Rodriguez in with a defence splitting pass; Saints’ winger was kept out by a strong save only for Oyekunle to blast the rebound over.

Oyekunle was then denied by the save of the game as Reading goalkeeper Harrison Rhone got a hand to a shot that was destined for the top corner.

It was only a matter of time before the pressure paid off and Calum McFarlane’s side drew level through substitute Tommy Dobson-Ventura, who tapped in a rebounded shot from close range.

Then, in stoppage time, Saints struck again. After some patient build up play, Gomes Rodriguez raced to the byline and cut the ball back to the edge of the area for Miles to drill into the bottom corner.

The dramatic late winner caused jubilant scenes and lifted Saints above their opponents into 10th position in the Under-18s Premier League.

Saints: Upstell, Prescott (Daley 45), Moore (c), Fry (Dobson-Ventura 74), Sesay, Miles, Gomes Rodriguez, Williams, Ehibhatiomhan (Pitts 71), Martin (Oyekunle 65), Merry.

Subs not used: Abbotson.

Goals: Dobson-Ventura 80, Miles 90+2.

Yellow Cards: Oyekunle 90+4.

Reading: Rhone, Ahmed, Field, Spencer, Duah, Beacroft (c), Osho (Goulding 85), Sackey, Barough, Gutierrez Ramirez (Howard 69), Coke-Miles.

Subs not used: Sharlott, Porter-Atkinson, Source.

Goals: Spencer 32.

Yellow Cards: Spencer 90+3.