Starting XI

In Ed Brand’s starting team on Saturday morning was the returning Josh Brooking from serving a red-card suspension, Derrick Abu fresh from signing his first professional contract and Jude Soonsup-Bell who had been spending time with the development squad of late.

Pressure pays

Kicking-off a little later than expected, Chelsea were raring to go and brought the game to Reading from the first whistle. The width provided by Silko Thomas and Abu caused the visitors problems as the team looked to stretch their opponents at every opportunity.

A couple of early chances for Soonsup-Bell crashed into the side netting as the young Blues aimed to gain an advantage over the Royals and it eventually came in the 13th minute through Charlie Webster.

Fouled 18 yards from goal, Webster held on to the ball tightly to take the resulting free-kick. With his right foot he found the top corner, well out of the reach of Matthew Rowley in the Reading net for his third goal of the season.

Half-time approach

After the opener Reading realised they had to respond if they were to stay in the game and a stronger offensive approach asked questions of the Chelsea defence, all of which were answered assertively at the midpoint of the half.

Meanwhile, Chelsea continued to create scoring opportunities with Charlie Wiggett and Webster both testing the hands of Rowley before Joe Haigh connected with Brooking’s cross a little too well a minute before the interval.

More of the same

We started the second half in the hunt for more, Soonsup-Bell and Ben Elliott both let fly but missed the target within the opening minutes of the restart – while schoolboy Ted Curd provided a safe pair of hands in reply to a couple of Reading chances on his Under-18s debut.

After contributing 30 minutes in Friday night’s PL2 game, Soonsup-Bell was withdrawn shortly before the hour mark and replaced by Ronnie Stutter.

Final quarter

Our next change came as we entered the last 15 minutes of play, Jimi Tauriainen replaced Abu with a fresh pair of legs. At this stage Reading had gained a some control in the game and were searching for a goal which would come in the 76th minute.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan was earlier denied by Curd but there was no stopping his effort for the goal which flew in to the top corner from the left side of the 18-yard box.

Frustratingly, Reading doubled their lead quite soon after their first, turning the game on its head. An effort from distance by Harvey Maudner crept beyond Curd and in to the net. With little time left on the clock the visitors managed their two-goal lead well to see out the remaining minutes for the win.

What’s next?

Up next for Brand’s boys is a trip to Norwich on Saturday 27 February, kick-off at the Lotus Training Centre is 11am.

Chelsea 3-4-2-1 Ted Curd; Josh Brooking, Charlie Wiggett (c), Bashir Humphreys; Silko Thomas, Josh Tobin, Charlie Webster, Derrick Abu (Jimi Tauriainen 74); Ben Elliott, Joe Haigh; Jude Soonsup-Bell (Ronnie Stutter 58)Unused subs Luke Badley-Morgan, Sami Tlemcani, Edwin AnderssonBooked Brooking 78Scorer Webster 13

Reading Matthew Rowley, Sam Paul, Lynford Sackley, Benjamin Purcel (Jordan Hamilton Olise 46), Tyrell Ashcorft, Louis Holzman (Kelvin Abrefa 66), Malachi Talent-Aryeety (c), Hamid Abdel Salam, Jahmari Clarke, Harvey Maudner, Kelvin EhibhatiomhanUnused subs Tom Norcrott, Yaw Turkson, Alfie AndersonScorer Ehibhatiomhan 76, Maudner 85