U18s: Aston Villa 4-0 Reading

Aston Villa stayed top of the Under-18 Premier League South division on Saturday, with an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Reading at Bodymoor Heath. 

A first-half header from TJ Carroll gave Jimmy Shan's Young Lions the lead at the break, before a dominant second-half showing saw goals from Cole Brannigan, Vinnie Hayward and Markie Meade complete a resounding victory.

The hard-earned three points in Villa's first league outing in over two months made it three wins, three clean sheets and 14 goals scored in their last three competitive outings, after FA Youth Cup wins over Accrington Stanley and Newcastle United. 

The Villans were dominant throughout, and took just seven minutes to have their first attempt at goal. Under-16 Jack McGrath – after starring in Villa’s Youth Cup fourth-round win at Newcastle – cut inside on the edge of the area, but fired over.

Reading enjoyed their fair share of the ball in the early stages, though it was the Young Lions creating the better of the opportunities, as Teddie Bloomfield blasted over from distance after a corner was only cleared as far as the left-back on the edge of the box.

And by the half-hour mark, Shan’s side had eventually taken the lead. Villa kept the pressure on their visitors after an initial free-kick was dealt with, Trai-Varn Mulley swung a ball deep to the back post and Carroll crashed a header home.

The hosts looked for more before the break. After winning back possession high up the field, the ball found its way to Brannigan, whose effort from the edge of the area stung the palms of Royals goalkeeper Josh Welland, who did just enough to keep it out.

The hosts began the second period in a similar fashion in their search for a second goal, with Brannigan denied by Welland from close range after the Reading stopper had got down well to keep out Elijah Briscoe’s effort from the edge of the box.

But just before the hour, the Young Lions found their vital second goal, courtesy of Brannigan. Centre-backs Carroll and Leon Routh combined, the latter delivering a cross which was met by Briscoe. His strike was blocked, but Brannigan was on hand to bury the rebound.

Villa kept their foot on the gas, and might have had three when substitute Meade could not find the target when one on one with Welland and under pressure from the away defence, in between saved attempts from McGrath and Mulley.

And 13 minutes from time, the home side found their third. Villa’s high press was again rewarded when Keilan Quinn won the ball back high up the field. Max Jenner found fellow substitute Vinnie Hayward, who cut inside onto his left foot and found the bottom corner.

There was still time for the Villans to put the cherry on the cake from the penalty spot in the closing stages. Meade was bundled to the floor by Jacob Neptune, and the Villa substitute dusted himself down to convert from 12 yards, sending Welland the wrong way to get himself on the scoresheet.

It completed a comfortable victory for Shan’s team, who remain two points clear at the top of the Under-18 Premier League South table, with three games in hand over second-placed Crystal Palace, ahead of their trip to Norwich City next weekend.