Match Reports

U18 Report: Albion 2 Reading 2

By James Hilsum • 29 January 2018

  • Albion draw 2-2 with Reading at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre
  • Jordan Onen and Alex Cochrane on target for the Seagulls
  • Jack Nolan and Khalid Simmo score for Reading
  • Thomas McGill saves a penalty in the second half
     

Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-18s scored a last-minute equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw with Reading in an entertaining game at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre on Saturday.

Jordan Onen gave Albion the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour, but the Royals turned the game on its hand with goals from Jack Nolan and Khalid Simmo, before Alex Cochrane scored deep into stoppage time to make the final score 2-2.

The Seagulls had a chance early on in the game when Danny Cashman played Ryan Longman through on goal, but Reading keeper Adam Desbois was on hand to thwart the forward.

But the deadlock was broken with 15 minutes on the clock, when Tareiq Shihab’s ball caused mayhem in the Reading defence, and Onen was on hand to capitalise on the error and give the Seagulls the lead.

Stefan Ljubicic could’ve doubled Albion’s advantage when he rose highest to meet Hamish Morrison’s ball into the box, but Despois made a smart save.

But it was Reading that struck next ten minutes after the re-start when Nolan’s brilliant free kick beat Thomas McGill.

McGill kept the scores at 1-1 after saving a penalty, but Reading struck again through Khalid Simmo’s strike, which made the score 2-1 with 66 minutes played.

The Seagulls had the last word though, as a goalmouth scramble resulted in Cochrane’s close-range finish deep into added time to give Albion a draw.

ALBION: McGill; Morrison, Shihab, Clark-Eden, Roberts; Onen, Fornah, Cochrane, Longman; Cashman, Ljubicic (Spong 80).

SUBS NOT USED: Bentley (GK), Kone, Weaire, Ibeh.