QUALITY goals from Thierry Nevers, Jack Nolan and Michael Olise sent Reading FC through to the FA Youth Cup fourth round after a 3-1 victory at Cambridge United on Tuesday night.

The third-round win at Abbey Stadium highlighted the depth in the Royals Academy, with eight of the starting 11 having featured for the Under 23s this season.

But David Dodds’ youngsters had to weather early pressure on Tuesday night and rely on Jokkull Andresson to deny Ben Worman from point-blank range.

However, the visitors broke the deadlock on 15 minutes Nevers curled an effort into the top corner from a Khalid Simmo assist.

Reading were forced to dig in for a period then lost Conor Lawless to a serious injury.

The 17-year-old – who has been involved in first-team training recently – was stretchered off after colliding with Blake D’Arcy resulting in seven minutes of first-half injury time, during which Tom Dickens headed home the equaliser from a free-kick.

The Us remained on the front foot after the restart but failed to find a way past rock-solid Andresson.


Royals, though, regrouped and got their noses back in front in the 63rd minute when Nolan linked up with Shamar Moore before slotting a precise finish past Louis Chadwick and into the bottom corner.

Reading were now on top again and Chadwick made a vital save to deny Neves before Dejan Tetek’s effort hit the post.

The match then all hinged on a dramatic few minutes as Andresson superbly tipped a Charlie Johnson header over to deny Us an equaliser.

Moments later, Olise grabbed Reading’s third by drilling a low free-kick into the bottom corner after Neves had been fouled.

Reading face a trip to either Aston Villa or Swansea City in the fourth round.

Cambridge Utd U18: Chadwick, Jeche, Battersby, Simper, Johnson, Dickens, Bennett, Miller (Steel 75), Neal, Worman, D'Arcy (Dearman 87). Subs not used: Foxall, Goode, Toyer. Booked: Miller.

Reading U18: J Andresson, Pemberton, Elva-Fountaine, Hewitt, Pendlebury (Nditi HT), Lawless (Tetek 32), Nolan, Simmo, Olise, Nevers, Moore. Subs not used: Roberts, Melvin-Lambert, Osorio. Booked: Pendlebury, Elva-Fountaine.