Royals in FA Youth Cup action…
Our Under 18s were eliminated from the FA Youth Cup on Friday evening following a 3-0 defeat on Merseyside against Everton in the Third Round at Goodison Park.
Royals’ Thomas Norcott was the first ‘keeper called into action when he had to dive to his left to deny the young Toffees skipper Halid Djankpata inside the opening 90 seconds.
Roman Dixon then charged down the far side, however Abraham Kanu read the cross and cleared for a corner.
Francis Okoronkwo rose highest to head the ball down towards the bottom left corner, but Norcott produced a terrific palm away to keep the score level.
The first shot by the visitors came from Ajani Giscombe on the edge of the box but his effort was deflected into the path of the untroubled Toffees’ ‘keeper Sebastian Jensen.
The Royals second attack saw Caylan Vickers whip a free kick into the box that initially caused some confusion for the hosts before Jensen punched the ball away.
It was then the visitors turn to struggle to clear their lines following a mazy run by Coby Ebere but Owen Barker’s deflected half volley was followed all the way by Norcott.
However, the Royals resolve was broken in the 22nd minute when Okoronkwo steered the ball into the net from Barker’s free kick.
The hosts dominance showed as they doubled their lead five minutes later when Barker picked out Djankpata who headed the ball past Norcott.
Barker then attempted a shot himself, but his dipping effort from range flew just over the bar.
The Royals almost halved the deficit just before the break but skipper Zion Nditi’s cross just missed the unmarked Vickers at the back post.
Harry Furlong then smashed a free kick into a wall of blue before the ball was recycled with Furlong picked out at the back post, but he couldn’t get his shot on target.
Half time: Everton U18s 2-0 Reading U18s
The Toffees made a quick start to the second half and were denied in the opening 20 seconds when Norcott stopped Dixon’s shot after he had been laid off by Barker.
Ryley Campbell then played the ball forward to Joseph Barough but he was brought down by Ishe Samuels-Smith on the edge of the box as the Royals looked to get back into the game, but the resulting free kick was headed away by Okoronkwo.
Nditi then crossed a ball into the box, but Jensen came out to collect the ball.
The visitors kept up the pressure and Furlong collected the ball out wide and found Barough in the box, but his volley went just the wrong side of the post.
The hosts meanwhile looked for a third with the onrushing Norcott doing enough to put off Okoronkwo, who put his effort wide after he was slid in by Matthew Apter.
Royals substitute Jeremiah Okine-Peters then cut into the box but despite laying the ball off to Giscombe in the D, he was unable to get a shot away.
But moments later the Toffees put the game to bed when the hosts hit on the break through Okoronkwo who set up Barker, with the midfielder finding the net from the edge of the box.
The Royals kept going however and substitute Aston Greaver almost created a one on one, but his ball was cut out by Apter.
The Toffees did look to extend their lead through Ebere but Beacroft stood tall to block the winger’s strike.
In the third minute of stoppage time Giscombe looked to find a consolation, but his attempted curling effort went just wide of Jensen’s post in what proved to be the final action.
Full time: Everton U18s 3-0 Reading U18s
Everton U18: Jensen, Dixon, Butler, Tierney, I Samuels-Smith, Patterson, Barker (Heath 73’), Apter, Okoronkwo (Sherif 77’), Djankpata (C) (Bates 73’), Ebere.
Unused subs: Graham, Wilson, O Samuels-Smith, Beaumont-Clark.
Yellow Cards: Djankpata (50’), Butler (55’), Dixon (76’), Patterson (88’).
Goals: Okoronkwo (22’), Djankpata (27’), Barker (67’).
Reading U18: Norcott, Nditi (C), Daniel-Spray (Okine-Peters (63’), Spencer (Harris 56’), Beacroft, Kanu, Furlong, Campbell, Barough (Greaver 56’), Vickers, Giscombe.
Unused subs: Mawer, Field, Hutchings, Jambang.
Yellow Cards: Beacroft (19’), Spencer (34’), Nditi (60’).