In-form striker amongst the goals once again as Ali's youngsters seal final day po
Femi Azeez took his season tally into double figures, as a double from the in-form forward helped Reading U23s to a 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s on the final day of their Premier League 2 campaign.
The 19-year-old strikers finishes in either half made it four goals in two games for the youngster, who helped Mehmet Ali's team secure an eighth-placed finish in their last outing of the season at Aggborough Stadium.
Having been beaten 5-0 by the Royals in late April, Wolves almost got off to the ideal start after six minutes, but for a brilliant James Holden stop. Tricky winger Theo Corbeanu worked space to cross down the left, and his ball picked out Luke Cundle whose effort was tipped behind superbly by the man in the Reading net.
Despite having to soak up their fair share of early pressure, it was the Royals who went ahead after 26 minutes. Irish midfielder Kian Leavy was picked out down the left, and his pinpoint cross found the head of Azeez who knocked home beyond Jackson Smith in the Wolves net.
However we led for just five minutes as Wolves, who needed a win to seal a home tie in the play-offs drew level, a chipped ball inside the area from Taylor Perry saw Owen Hesketh goalbound and unmarked, and it was Hesketh who prodded home past Holden on the right hand side of the area.
Three minutes later, Wolves almost turned the game on its head, but for another top save from Holden, who got down well to deny defender Lewis Richards, whose low, driven effort could easily have slipped under the Royals stopper.
Half-time: Wolves U23 1-1 Reading U23
With 15 minutes left of the ninety, Wolves looked on course for victory when they went a goal up for the first time, Pascal Estrada's nicely angled ball over the top found Cundle, who threaded a pass to striker Conor Carty - Carty then running through, evading the last man before placing the ball past Holden.
However with 85 minutes on the clock, up stepped Azeez to double his tally for the afternoon, as he did ten days ago against the Wanderers. The Royals forward was allowed to run at the hosts defence and he did just that, before sweeping a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner from 18 yards, pulling his side back onto level terms.
Both sides had sniffs at an opportunity for a last-gasp winner, but in the end it finished all square at the home of National League North outfit, Kidderminster Harriers.
Full-time: Wolves U23 2-2 Reading U23
Wolves U23: Smith, Scott, Richards, Estrada, Marques (Matheson 69’), Hong Wan, Cundle, Corbeanu, Perry, Hesketh (Campbell 89), Carty.
Unused subs: Young, Hodnett, Nya.
Scorers: Hesketh 31’, Carty 75’
Reading U23: Holden, Samuels, Watson, East, Stickland, Dorsett, Leavy (Purcell 89’), Lawless (Holzman 79’), Osorio, Azeez, Camara (Clarke 79’).
Unused subs: Rowley, Maudner.
Scorer: Azeez 26’ 85’