Professional performance sees Royals progress
Reading put on a dominant showing to run out 4-1 winners away to Oxford City and earn their place in the next round of the FA Youth Cup.
A fourth-minute strike from Shay Spencer kickstarted proceedings before an impressive solo goal from Kiyan Coke Miles Smith and an excellent curled effort from Emmanuel Osho saw the Royals three-up at half-time.
Joseph Barough extended the lead after the interval, before Ryan Sheppard grabbed one back for the hosts. However, it proved to be only a consolation with Reading putting on a commanding performance to put their name in the hat for the Second Round.
On a dark and cold Halloween night in Oxfordshire, the hosts, who ply their trade in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division Two Central, would have been looking to cause a cup scare or two.
However, there was no trick in the opening exchanges for the Royals, only a treat of a ball from Ashqar Ahmed.
The right-back burst down the right-hand side and played an inch-perfect pull-back into the feet of Spencer, who made no mistake with a smart finish into the bottom left to give Reading the lead within four minutes.
Mikele Leigetwood's boys continued to attack, with skipper Boyd Beacroft going close with a far-post header from Tyler Field's corner, but his effort was lacking control and went off-target.
After dominating the game but lacking the final ball, Coke-Miles-Smith took matters into his own hands. After receiving the ball just within the Oxford City half, he put on a driving run into the area, pushing off the on-rushing defender before lofting his finish above the 'keeper and into the back of the net.
With the Royals continuing to control the game, their two-goal lead became three when Osho, full of confidence, cut onto his right foot and let off an audacious curling effort from outside the area. The ball whistled past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net, with the third goal the best of the lot so far.
Reading 'keeper Harrison Rhone was called into action on the stroke of half-time, doing well to hold onto a long-range effort, ensuring the clean sheet was maintained as the Royals headed into the break three goals to the good.
Half-time: Oxford City U18 0-3 Reading U18
The rain began to fall as the game got back underway, with the Royals going closest from the restart. Taylan Harris took on a free-kick from just outside the area, but could only clip the crossbar before it went out for a goal kick.
Oxford City then looked to threaten with a free-kick of their own, albeit a bit further out, and more central. Josh McConnell stepped up, but Rhone did well to push away his effort aimed for the bottom-right hand corner.
The hosts would rue the missed opportunity following an excellent piece of team play from the Royals. A good ball from Sackey saw him pick out Coke Miles Smith on the left, with the goalscorer able to put an accurate cross into the box towards Barough, who swept home his finish to extend Reading's lead.
Despite their four-goal advantage, Leigertwood's side could not become complacent. They were reminded of this fact when McConnell let fly with an effort from the edge of the area, forcing Rhone into an excellent acrobatic fingertip save.
However, the reminders became harder to ignore when substitute Sheppard reacted quickest to a loose ball in the area to rifle home an effort from close-range, giving the home side a goal back, but more importantly, the faintest hope of a potential comeback.
Substitute Jayden Porter-Atkinson went close to adding a fifth for the Royals when he latched onto a loose ball in the hosts' area, but the on-rushing effort from Russell did enough to block his shot.
The Hoops improved greatly in the second half, but could not breach a resolute Royals defence, who held on to ensure a place in the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup.
Full-time: Oxford City U18 1-4 Reading U18
Oxford City U18: Russell, Bartlett, Scott, Smart, England, McConnell (Bacon 73), Bessassa-Grant (Source 61), Duggan, Taylor (Sheppard 65), Daniel, Croker.
Unused subs: Brind, Durnin, Dos-Santos, Pearce.
Goal: Sheppard 67.
Yellow card: Scott 70.
Reading U18: Rhone, Ahmed (Howard 78), Field, Spencer, Duah, Beacroft (c), Osho, Sackey, Barough, Harris (Jones 78), Coke Miles Smith (Porter-Atkinson 58).
Unused subs: Mawer, Goulding, Ramirez, Al Jabari, .
Goal: Spencer 4, Coke Miles Smith 28, Osho 35, Barough
Yellow card: Spencer 67.