The Blues established an early lead as Kavuma-McQueen, who signed his first professional contract last week, dribbled beyond several defenders and fired home.

Reading responded against the run of play as T'Shay St Louis curled a stunning effort into the top corner to level. However, we quickly regained the lead as Kavuma-McQueen netted his second through an unstoppable strike that put us 2-1 ahead at half-time.

Watson extended the Blues' advantage in the second half with a brilliant free-kick, his third goal across Under-18 competitions as a schoolboy and, while George Booth found the net for Reading after a deflection, we remained resolute to confirm progression to the next round of the prestigious cup competition.

A fast start

Chelsea were quick out of the traps, offering a warning shot after just three minutes. Captain for the evening, Olutayo Subuloye, clipped a perfectly weighted ball over the top for Kobe Barbour, who used his pace to get in behind. The winger reached the edge of the penalty area and drilled a low, venomous strike that Toby Borgnis did well to push away.

The breakthrough arrived soon after, courtesy of Kavuma-McQueen. The winger collected the ball wide, cut into the penalty area and beat his markers before calmly finishing into the bottom corner to give the Blues an early lead. It set the tone for an entertaining contest.

We continued to build momentum, dominating possession and pressing for a second. Barbour went close again after receiving the ball wide and charging at his defender, but his low drive in a one-on-one situation was denied by the feet of Borgnis.

As the game settled, the Blues remained firmly in control and probed for openings in the Reading defence. Kavuma-McQueen went in search of his brace and tested the Royals’ keeper from the edge of the area with a whipped effort that stung the gloves.

Our next opportunity arrived shortly after as Watson lofted a long ball into the box and defender Dante Waite met it with a curling effort that flew inches past the post.

Back level... but not for long

However, the hosts struck back unexpectedly. Reading striker Kallum Fuller-Thompson dispossessed a Blues player high up the field and squared the ball for St Louis, who smashed it into the top corner, beating Freddy Bernal to level the scores.

However, the young Blues soon regained the lead. Watson won the ball back and left it for Kavuma-McQueen, who collected it on the edge of the penalty area and made no mistake, thundering a strike into the bottom corner.

It was another brilliant finish from the winger, putting the Blues 2-1 ahead at the break following an excellent first half.

The second period began at the same high tempo as the first ended. Our first change of the evening saw Barbour replaced by Mathis Eboue, who wasted no time in making his imprint on the game.

The substitute immediately showed his quality, threading a through ball to Chizaram Ezenwata, whose low strike was kept out by Borgnis.

Moment of magic

We soon claimed our third after being awarded a free-kick in a promising position; Eboue was brought down just outside the area. Watson stepped up confidently and curled a superb strike beyond the Royals’ goalkeeper at his near post, extending the Blues’ advantage.

Substitute Jashyade Greenwood then appeared to have added a fourth after getting on the end of a clever flick from Kavuma-McQueen and finishing clinically, but celebrations were cut short as the assistant referee raised the offside flag.

Reading pulled another goal back late on as St Louis collected possession and picked out Booth in space, whose effort took a deflection before finding the net to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

The hosts pressed for a late equaliser, but we remained organised and disciplined and protected our lead. Borgnis was called into action at the other end, producing two fine saves in quick succession: first denying Greenwood from close range and then keeping out Sol Gordon’s follow-up.

Four minutes of stoppage time followed, and with the Blues composed, the final whistle confirmed progression into the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.

What it means

Following this result, Chelsea Under-18s progress to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, with the draw to be made in due course.

What's next?

Our young Blues are in Under-18 Premier League action on Saturday, travelling to Leicester City for a midday kick-off that will be available to watch live and free on the Chelsea Official App and website.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Freddy Bernal; Riley Ebho (Lewi Richards 78), Dante Waite (Calvin Diakite 89), Olutayo Subuloye (c), Landon Emenalo; Reggie Watson, Charlie Holland, Reggie Walsh; Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (Sol Gordon 78), Chizaram Ezenwata (Jashayde Greenwood 67), Kobe Barbour (Mathis Eboue 52)
Unused subs: Isaac Collinson, Ibrahim Rabbaj
Scorers: Kavuma-McQueen 6, 38, Watson 62
Booked: Barbour 51, Holland 83

Reading: Toby Borgnis, Ryan Zie, Callum Cliff, George Booth, Anthony Dove, Harley Irish (c), Tyler Adjei (Jubilee Ntege h-t), Ryan Beacroft, Kallum Fuller-Thompson (D'Nayo Hunte 81), Scofield Lonmeni Dekam, T'Shay St Louis
Unused subs: Matthias Ojo, Matt Pullinger, Lucas Daka, Henry Agyekum, Joseph Ntege
Scorers: St Louis 30, Booth 73
Booked: Zie 61