With Ed Brand’s young Blues already into one final and in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup, today he and his team set out to close the gap at the top in the Under 18 Premier League fixture against Reading.

Only one change was made to the side who beat Stoke City in the U-18 Premier League Cup on the weekend. A second-half substitute in that game, Ato Ampah, came into the team from the start.

Slow start

Not soon after kick-off, the game was accompanied by heavy rain and that played a part in a slow start from our young Blues.

The young Royals were very direct and continued to swing crosses into the box to unsettle Chelsea. They were almost rewarded for this approach as they hit the post early in the half.

They threatened again as Ted Curd denied Princewill Ekibhatiomhan with a point-blank one-handed save, doing terrifically to keep out the tricky striker.

He was not to be denied second time round as he finished well after a loose ball was won in the middle park and fed to him.

Moments before half-time we had our first real opportunity as Ronnie Stutter did well to get round his marker, but he dragged his shot wide of the post.

Fightback

We worked our way into the game and showed our quality despite the conditions to equalise through Silcott-Duberry. A nice move resulted in Ampah laying the ball off for Silcott-Duberry and he side-footed into the corner of the net.

With the game hanging in the balance, Leo Castledine struck a right-footed shot past their keeper to give us the lead.

Late penalty

It looked like we had done enough to secure the win but three minutes from time Reading won a penalty as a result of a Josh Tobin tackle.

The game ended 2-2 with our young Blues unable to secure the win in stoppage time.

The games are coming thick and fast for our Under-18s as they are back in action on Saturday 19 March against Norwich.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Ted Curd; Billy Gee, Josh Tobin, Luke Badley-Morgan; Ato Ampah (Noah Hay 77), Jimi Tauriainen (Chinonso Chukwueze 90+3), Sam Rak-Sakyi, Zain Silcott-Duberry; Leo Castledine, Tudor Mendel-Idowu, Ronnie Stutter.

Unused subs Max Merrick, Tyrique George, Kaiden Wilson.Scorers Zain Silcot-Duberry 55, Leo Castledine 80.Booked Leo Castledine 57; Jimi Tauriainen 84; Josh Tobin 86; Luke Badley-Morgan 90.

Reading (4-3-3): Thomas Norcott; Zion Nditi, Boyd Beacroft, Samuel Paul, Jacob Borgnis, Abraham Kanu, Harrison Furlong (Kyle Daniel-Spray 78), Benjamin Purcell (c) (Taylan Harris 81), Princewill Ekibhatiomhan, Ajani Giscombe, Caylan Vickers.

Unused subs Matt Goulding, Toby Mawer, Jordan Addo-Antoine.Scorers Princewill Ekibhatiomhan 38, Ajani Giscombe 87 (p).Booked Boyd Beacroft 22; Zion Nditi 57; Jacob Borgnis 90+3.