U18 REPORT: READING 2-1 BURNLEY

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Young Clarets lose out to Royals in first away game of campaign

2022-08-20T13:32:59.584Z

U18 REPORT: READING 2-1 BURNLEY

Young Clarets lose out to Royals in first away game of campaign

2022-08-20T13:32:59.584Z

Young Clarets lose out to Royals in first away game of campaign

Tony Philliskirk and his youth team were narrowly defeated by Reading, losing out 2-1 in their first away game of the U18 Professional Development League season.

Polish youth international Wiktor Gromek struck late on for Burnley, but it proved only a consolation with a goal in each half from Jeremiah Okine-Peters and Caylan Vickers enough to earn the Royals three points.

In the only change to the matchday squad from last week's defeat to Bristol City, Ollie Sweeney came in to take his place on the bench as Jack Bates dropped out with a minor knock.

First Half

Early on, Clarets goalkeeper Charlie Casper reacted well to deny Ashton Greaver before a last-ditch clearance denied Jambang Ayyuba.

Ryan Tioffo then appeared to be felled by Reading goalkeeper Thomas Norcott at the other end, but after appeals were waved away, the hosts took the lead on 19 minutes. Latching onto a through ball, Okine-Peters fired home emphatically.

Both Joe Westley and Gromek had efforts blocked away as Burnley searched for a quick response, and Tioffo also had a strike of his own held by Norcott.

At the half-hour mark, Gromek then fired a ball across the face of goal with no teammate able to connect, and it remained 1-0 come the break.

Second Half

The hosts should’ve doubled their advantage within five minutes of the restart as Troy Murray squared for Okine-Peters, but the Royals frontman spurned the opportunity for his second of the game.

Casper was called upon again soon after to keep out Murray’s own shot, with the contest becoming stop-start as both sides made changes.

The next real chance of note came on 88 minutes, and it culminated in Reading’s winner. Breaking through on goal, substitute Vickers slotted the ball into the back of the net with a composed finish.

Five minutes were added on, and two minutes into time added on, Burnley’s goal came via Gromek’s rasping strike following some persistent play up front by Westley.

But, despite pressure late on, it wasn’t enough to carve out an equaliser. Philliskirk’s side now move on to next Saturday (August 27) when they welcome Charlton Athletic to the Burnley Training Centre in an 11:00 BST kick-off.

Burnley: Casper, Olopade, James, Ashton, Grant, West (Sweeney ’81), Sime (Rogers ’57), Gromek, Masara (Wane ’66), Westley ©, Tioffo (Vaughan ’66)

Unused Sub: Vilar Robinson

Reading: Norcott, Nditi ©, Daniel Spray, Hammond-Chambers-Borgnis, Beacroft, Kanu, Ayyuba, Campbell, Greaver, Okine-Peters, Murray

Subs: Spencer, Rhone, Harris, Giscombe, Vickers

Goals: Okine-Peters, ’19, Vickers, ’88, Gromek, ‘90+2