Match Review: Boro U21s 1-3 Reading U21s

Boro Under-21s were beaten in their first game of the Premier League 2 season as Reading came from behind to win at Heritage Park.

Hazeem Bakre had given Boro an early lead but Reading responded well, equalising quickly before a pair of goals in the second half sealed the points.

Boro took the lead on 11 minutes as a ball lofted into the box from the left by Matthew Hoppe was controlled and finished coolly by Bakre.

Mark Tinkler’s side were in control until Reading equalised against the run of play as Reece Evans sprung the offside trap and prodded home.

There was an opportunity for the hosts to retake the lead midway through the first half, but Hoppe’s low strike was held by Matthew Rowley in the Reading goal.

Oliver Samuels went close when his back post header dropped just past the post but the sides could not be separated going into half-time.

Reading had the better early chances in the second half, with Afonso Lindo making important blocks to deny Louie Holzman and Kai Garrett.

Boro regained the initiative, though, and Eric Hamelberg went close to restoring their advantage with a chip from distance which narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Rio Patterson-Powell had an immediate impact after being brought on as a substitute, racing down the right flank before delivering a superb cross which Michael Stickland cleared just over his own bar.

But it was Reading who grabbed the third goal of the game, with Larry Omoregie sprinting through to score less than a minute after being introduced from the bench.

James Wilson could have pulled Boro level, only for his strike across goal to be cleared.

Reading doubled their advantage soon after when Basil Tuma danced his way through from the right and squared for Evans to score his second of the night.

Omoregie hit the bar with a sweet strike in stoppage time for Reading but the Royals had already done enough to secure the points.