U18s Report: Leicester City 2 Reading 0

Trevor Peake’s outfit had already faced the Royals twice this campaign, beating them 2-1 away from home back in October before losing 3-0 at home in January. 

City were looking for a first win in four games, with the last coming at Belvoir Drive against Brighton and Hove Albion last month. 

On that day, the young Foxes completed a remarkable comeback, recovering from three goals down to beat the Seagulls 4-3. 

Since then, a slender FA Youth Cup Semi-Final Second Leg loss to Manchester City came before battling away defeats to Sunderland and Derby County. 

The Royals, having proved their worth at Belvoir Drive already this season, started well as Sam Smith went close with a curling effort that flew just wide of Max Smith-Varnham’s upright with just four minutes on the clock. 

Leicester grew into the game, and when Brandon Fox slipped in King, the striker had only one thing on his mind. He dropped his shoulder to break free from Dan Akinwumni before converting from a tight angle to put his side 1-0 up on 18 minutes. 

Hamza Choudhury then tried his luck from the edge of the box, before England Under-17s international Layton Ndukwu forced Luke Southwood into a fine save just moments later. 

City defended their one-goal lead well. Michael Kelly blocked Akinwumni’s initial effort, turning the ball behind to safety. Josh Barrett’s resulting corner was met by the head of Andy Rhinomota, but Danny Rowe was there to clear off the line. 

After absorbing much of the visiting side’s pressure, City doubled their lead. The ball fell kindly to King 20 yards out, and the forward made no mistakes, lashing in to grab his second goal of the game on 40 minutes. 

Smith-Varnham was again called into action as the first half came to a close, palming over Barrett’s powerful strike to keep his side’s two-goal lead intact at the break. 

With just two minutes of the second period gone, King had a chance to seal his hat-trick, but nodded just over the bar from Ndukwu’s delivery. 

A neat one-two between Fox and Ndukwu then saw the latter drag his shot across the face of goal as the game approached the hour mark. 

Chances for either side followed. Choudhury’s low drive was saved well by Southwood, while at the other end, Reading captain Lewis Collins side-footed wide from close range. 

City pursued a third goal, and skipper Matty Miles came closest to scoring it, firing over after finding some space in the box. 

Substitute Harvey Barnes made a positive impact after coming on with just over 10 minutes to play, first turning well and firing straight at Southwood, before blasting a low drive goal-bound in injury time that the shot-stopper was equal to – an action the brought the fixture to a close. 

The young Foxes continue their U18 Premier League campaign with a home tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Belvoir Drive on Saturday 2 May (11am kick-off). 

CITY: Smith-Varnham, Johnson, Kelly, Choudhury, Kipre, Knight (Anderson 46), Fox (Barnes 79), Miles (c), King, Rowe (Bailey 46), Ndukwu 

SUBS NOT USED: Bramley, Mitchell 

GOALS: King 18, 40 

READING: Southwood, Akinwumni, Lawal, Bennett, Ethelston, McIntre (Richards 90), Rhinomota, Collins (c), Smith, Barrett, Davis (Williams 65) 

SUBS NOT USED: Tupper, Chatee, East 

REFEREE: Aidan Coleman