Under-21s suffer second-half collapse against Royals

Four second-half goals from Reading striker Jeremiah Okine-Peters consigned our Under-21s to a 4-1 defeat at the Lamex Stadium on Friday night.

We'd led at the break after Jaden Williams' fourth goal in three games, but after Okine-Peters equalised nine minutes into the second period, we suffered a late collapse as the visitors' centre-forward bagged three more - including two penalties - in the final nine minutes.

Adding to our woes, we finished the game with 10 men after defender Alfie Dorrington was shown a straight red card for his challenge which led to Reading's second spot-kick.

It was a disappointing display from Wayne Burnett's side, who had roared back to beat Arsenal so well last time out, just before the international break.

The first half yielded few chances - Reading's best came after just 13 seconds as Okine-Peters sped down the right but flashed his effort across goal and wide. For us, Williams put Damola Ajayi's cross wide at the near post, Callum Olusesi couldn't connect at the back stick when a corner was flicked on in his direction and Rio Kyerematen saw a couple of shots fingertipped wide by goalkeeper Tom Norcott as we dominated the ball without really making it count.

Williams had the ball in the net in the 44th minute when he converted the rebound after Kyerematen's drive was repelled by the keeper but the offside flag denied him, although there was no doubt about his opener in the second minute of first-time stoppage time, the striker pulling down a high ball in the box with a lovely first touch before turning and sliding a low shot from a tight angle on the right low into the net.

Ajayi's attempt deflected just wide after a fine counter-attack at the start of the second period and although Williams later flashed a shot just off-target, that was as good as it got for us in truth and a below-par performance for the rest of the game allowed the Royals to storm ahead. Okine-Peters rose highest in the box to routinely head home Joseph Barough's cross in the 54th minute and a little while after Charlie Wellens' rising shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Aaron Maguire, the visitors won a penalty when Maeson King was deemed to have fouled substitute Basil Tuma as he raced in behind following a contentious throw-in decision on our left flank, Okine-Peters duly firing home from the spot to put his side ahead with nine minutes remaining.

Five minutes later, Tuma's quick pass released Okine-Peters in behind and he gleefully hammered past Maguire, before another penalty decision went against us in stoppage time, Dorrington adjudged to have bundled over Wellens from behind and given his marching orders, with Okine-Peters sending Maguire the wrong way to complete his evening's work.

Highlights | Spurs U21s 1-4 Reading U21s

Match data

Goals: Spurs - Williams 45+2; Reading - Okine-Peters 54, 81 (pen), 86, 90+3 (pen).

Yellow card: Spurs - King 80.

Red card: Spurs - Dorrington - 90+2.

Referee: Callum Walchester.

Venue: Lamex Stadium, Stevenage.

Weather: Partly cloudy, light winds, 13 degrees.

Attendance: 412.