U18s: Reading 5-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa fell to a disappointing 5-2 defeat at Reading in the Under-18 Premier League South on Saturday.

Kyrie Pierre drew Villa level after just 15 minutes but it was the hosts who led 2-1 at the break courtesy of David Nyarko’s brace.

The Royals striker completed his hat-trick shortly after the restart and although Tommi O’Reilly gave the Young Lions hope, Reading struck twice to claim the spoils and their first win of the season.

The loss leaves Villa without a win in three league matches ahead of Saturday’s home encounter against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Reading broke on the counter-attack to open the scoring after 11 minutes, Nyarko racing on to a throughball, getting the better of goalkeeper James Wright and converting into an empty net from the edge of the penalty area.

But a superb, flowing move saw Villa equalise just four minutes later, Pierre heading home Jayden Barber’s deep cross to cap a fine end-to-end passage of play which involved seven different players.

However, the Royals re-established their lead in the 36^th minute courtesy of Nyarko’s second, which became a treble soon after half-time when he converted from eight yards.

Another neat, well-worked passing move ensured Villa were back to 3-2, O’Reilly combining with Chisom Afoka before showing composure to create space and calmly slot post goalkeeper Matt Rowley at his near post.

Yet it was 4-2 just three minutes later as Princewill Ehibhationham fired home following another counter, with the scoring completed in injury time by substitute Aston Greaver.