Under-18s return to winning ways

A Luca Williams-Barnett header was enough to return for our Under-18s to pick up their third league win of the season against Reading.

Ellis Lehane got close to opening the deadlock twice in the early stages as Royals goalkeeper Josh Welland pulled off saves to keep him and a long range effort from Tynan Thompson out all inside the opening 10 minutes.

Lehane and then Malachi Hardy both saw headed efforts go wide before the half hour mark, before Thompson picked out Williams-Barnett in the six yard box for him to head home.

A closely contested second half saw few chances for either side as Stuart Lewis' side secured all three points at Hotspur Way.

A fast start saw Lehane fire an effort on goal just six minutes in, a cross in from the right was fumbled by Welland and dropped at the back post, but the shot was deflected wide.

Two minutes later and Lehane was in again, a superb through-ball allowed him into the left side the penalty area, but the 'keeper was equal to a hard and low effort.

The subsequent corner could only be cleared as far as Thompson who took aim from just outside the penalty area, and forced a strong save to keep it out.

Thompson was then involved again as he launched a quick counter-attack, only to be hauled down by Carter Bowdery deep into the Reading half. The free-kick was worked short to Williams-Barnett who crossed it in from the left, but Malachi Hardy couldn't quite get his head on the end of it, before Thompson had a shot blocked.

Lehane then saw a close range header go wide, before Harry Byrne's free-kick from the right was flicked on by Byfield but just went the wrong side of the far post.

Williams-Barnett was the next player to be set through on goal from a George Feeney through-ball, again into the left side of the area, but Welland was out quickly to smother the ball.

But just after the half-hour mark, the midfielder got his goal, Hardy picked out Thompson and again he went down the left and cut it back low to Williams-Barnett, who had to stoop to head home from the edge of the six-yard box.

Another sublime pass from Feeney saw him feed it to an oncoming Lehane who's effort was blocked by a sliding challenge from Philip Duah.

The final chance of the half saw Williams-Barnett fire a dipping free-kick just over the bar.

After the break, Lewis' side immediately went on the attack, with Williams-Barnett involved again. He headed down the left flank and cut it back in the direction of Lehane, only for a Reading foot to poke it away to Feeney, who fired over.

A second half of few chances for either side, saw Lehane force another save from close range after the hour mark, before Williams-Barnett took aim from 20-yards out, forcing a strong save low to the keeper's right, which proved to be the final chance six minutes from time.