A Devon derby is to be avoided as Torquay United took a route straight through what is known as, The Rivermoor.
While alternative lyrics to Blur’s Parklife don’t quite fit, a place in the FA Youth Cup first round is a perfect fit for Reading City’s Under 18’s as they dismantled an unbeaten Torquay United Under 18’s.
This Third Round Qualifying fixture was originally planned to take place in Devon, but thanks to the wet weather and a subsequent postponement, the tie was re-scheduled to take place in the Royal County, giving the home side a great boost.
Torquay have a rich history of bringing players through their youth system to progress into the professional game with recent names such as Kieffer Moore making the grade, and this current crop of ‘Young Gulls’ look to have an abundance of talent in their ranks, winning all five of their opening league games.
The visitors, seemingly continuing their bright form, took the lead after just fourteen minutes as Wellington completed a move down the right hand side. A cross found Wellington at the far past to tap home.
The Gulls joy was extremely short lived as The Cityzens responded with two goals in ten minutes. A Madono effort from the edge of the box was spilt by the visiting goalkeeper, crossing the line was followed by a brilliant finish across the goalkeeper from Emery.
Reading City held a slender, but somewhat comfortable lead at the half.
The second half saw the home side inflict more pain on their visitors from Devon. A strike from Mansaray half way through the half saw Reading City extend the deficit to two goals, before midfielder Forde put the tie to bed as far as a contest was concerned when he added a fourth in the eighty-ninth minute.
Related: Reading FC vs Reading City in the FA Youth Cup – it couldn’t happen, could it?
The Devonshire side pulled a goal back with a penalty in added time, but Madondo was at hand again, right at the death to restore his sides three goal advantage to give Reading City’s Under 18’s a historical FA Youth Cup win.
The Cityzens thwarted any chance of a fierce Devonshire Derby and will now welcome Exeter City to The Rivermoor in the First Round where they will hope to emulate their 1-0 win over Gosport Borough in the 2021/22 season, setting up a tie with Oxford United where they were defeated in the Second Round.
Tie to be played Thursday 2nd November 2023.
