A storming start to the second half, in which Edwin Andersson and Malik Mothersille found the net, was followed by the goal of the game, a penetrating move finished by Louis Flower, completing an impressive recovery and securing a victory that in the end was deserved.The young Blues lost the initiative after Reading scored against the run of play but steadily regained control of the game, although Prince Adegoke between the Chelsea posts pulled off two good first-half saves.In the second half there was more cutting edge and once back level, the visitors looked the far more likely side to grab a winner, and with space being found on the flanks regularly, that goal duly came.Our Under-18s now have two wins from two group games played in this competition, with Derby the side yet to be played.

Ed Brand’s side made the early running against Reading, with a deflected effort over the bar by Tyrique George the best to show from that spell. Another big deflection off a Reading defender forced the first save of the game from their keeper Matthew Riley.Just past the quarter-of-an-hour mark, the same player almost presented the Blues with a gift of an opener when he lost control of the ball but he redeemed himself by finger-tipping Mothersille’s shot wide.A couple of minutes later, Adegoke at the other end made an even sharper save to keep the home side out after our own slackness at the back.There was a Chelsea chance for skipper Charlie Webster but after another attack failed to bear fruit when a ball was played just behind Andersson in front of goal, Reading broke and took the lead in the 26th minute. It was a swift, direct attack with Troy Murray feeding Princewill Ehibhatioman for a low finish.Following that set-back, it took time but Chelsea started to look capable of an equaliser as the first half neared its end. Mothersille posed a threat on the right and went close but before the interval, Adegoke was fully extended again to make another good save.

Our goalie was powerless however when a low ball from the Reading right was not defended and Aston Greaver scored from close range. It was another sucker-punch goal right before the break.

Before the Chelsea blitz at the start of the second half, Adegoke had made another save but with only five minutes played after the restart, Brand’s boys were level.Firstly Andersson finished confidently after Mothersille had played the ball across the area, and then Mothersille scored his seventh U18 goal of the season, powering the ball through the keeper’s legs after a strong run down the flank, supplied by the right-back behind him Richard Olise.

Greaver was not far away for Reading with a shot from distance and Mothersille dragged wide when well placed before he then played the assist for Chelsea to take the lead midway through the second period.It was lovely goal, with Webster spotting and finding Mothersille in space and the winger firing the ball low into the danger zone where Flower stretched for the finish.

Reading later escaped when an offside flag spared Rowley’s blushes after he fumbled a free-kick and the ball was poked into his net, but by then the damage to the home side’s hopes had already been done.

Chelsea Prince Adegoke; Richard Olise, Kaiden Wilson, Luke Badley-Morgan, Somto Boniface; Charlie Webster (c), Michael Golding (Zain Silcott h-t), Tyrique George (Tudor Mendel 74); Malik Mothersille, Louis Flower, Edwin Andersson (Ato Ampah 89).Unused subs Sami Tlemcani, Harrison Murray-Campbell.Scorers Andersson 48, Mothersille 51, Flower 66Booked Badley-Morgan 83

Reading Rowley (c); Daniel-Spray (Romeo Gutierrez 55), Beacroft, Kanu, Addo-Antoine, Murray, Campbell, Hammond-Chambers, Giscombe, Greaver, Ehibhatioman (Harris 74).Unused subs Norcott, Thompson, Barough.Scorers Ehibhatioman 26, Greaver 44.Booked Hammond-Chambers 60

Photos courtesy of Mark Sandom