Academy

Town youngsters held by Reading

Royals come from two down to draw 2-2 at St Albans

Town players Vladimir Paternoster, Taylan Harris and Josh Phillips celebrate Harris' goal in the 2-2 draw with Reading at St Albans City.

Alex Lawless' young Hatters saw a third Premier League Cup victory of the season snatched from their grasp as Reading fought back from two down to grab a late equaliser at Clarence Park.

Josh Phillips and Taylan Harris, against his former club, had given the Town a two-goal lead with ten minutes of the second half played at St Albans City.

But the Royals hit back with a Tyler Sackey double, the second with 90 minutes on the clock, to deny the Hatters another three points which would put them in the driving seat for qualification to the next round ahead of next month's fixture with Brighton.

Liam Coyne had made a smart save at his near post from Emmanuel Osho, younger brother of former Town defender Gabe, inside the opening minute before Jamie Odegah had the Town’s first chance on eight minutes, heading Jack Lorentzen-Jones’ inswinging cross straight at visiting keeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke.

Five minutes later Christ Makosso, making his first appearance in a Town shirt after signing from Belgian second tier side Molenbeek earlier this month, stooped to head a beautifully arced free-kick from Benny Benagr home at the far post, but the offside flag ruled out a debut goal.

The best chance of the game so far for Town came on the half-hour, as Harris slid in to meet Tyrell Giwa's cross-shot from the right angle of the box, but the ex-Reading forward’s effort on the stretch went just the wrong side of the upright.

Harris tried his luck again from distance as half-time approached, but the Hatters had to settle for going in at the interval goalless, despite having the better of the first-half openings.

The deserved opening goal came just seconds after Osho had spurned another chance for Reading, Odegah crossing from the right for Phillips to steer home in the 51st minute.

The advantage was doubled five minutes later when some great work from Benagr on the left was matched by a smart chest control and left-footed finish by Harris.

Makosso was withdrawn immediately after impressing on his first outing in orange, and Reading halved the deficit just after the hour mark when Sackey fired emphatically into the top corner past Coyne, who had made a good save to deny the visitors' striker just moments earlier.

Town continued to probe, without really creating any further openings, but it was Sackey who levelled up with a close range finish with 90 minutes on the clock.

There was still time for Odegah to rattle the crossbar with an injury-time header, only for the ball to bounce agonisingly down on the wrong side of the goalline and the Hatters had to settle for a point, after surviving another scare with a Jacob Borgnis

The Hatters now have seven points from their five games in the competition, leaving them third in the group on goal difference behind Brighton, who they must now beat at Clarence Park on Tuesday February 4th to stand a chance of progressing to the next stage.

Burnley, the only side to beat Town so far in the competition, are top with 13 points. TOWN: Coyne, Giwa, Paternoster, Makosso (Stitt 57'), Chigozie, Benagr (72'), Lorentzen-Jones, Martins (C), Phillips, Harris (Xavier-Jones 83'), Odegah.

Subs not used: Pipa (GK), Ioannides.

Goals: Phillips 51', Harris 56'

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