Max Dowman scored all four goals as our under-18s beat Reading 4-0 to move within a point of the top of the U18 Premier League South.
Dowman opened the scoring after just 12 minutes with a fantastic solo goal before doubling our lead from the penalty spot.
The midfielder had his hat-trick just ten minutes into the second half, and finished the job with a fortunate goal in the 83rd minute.
What Happened
The away side made the better start to the game, with Larry Omoregie and Philip Duah both going close in the first five minutes.
It wasn’t long before Max Dowman took matters into his own hands though, beating half of the Reading team before slotting home from the edge of the box.
12 minutes later, we had a golden opportunity to double our lead when Louis Zecevic-John was pushed in the penalty area. Dowman stepped up and drilled the penalty into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
Almost immediately after the restart, Zecevic-John almost scored a third for us, firing an excellent effort just wide of the far post from a tight angle.
Reading had a good chance to halve the deficit just before half-time, but Emmanuel Osho struck the post from close range.
Ten minutes into the second half, Dowman completed his hat-trick, capitalising on a mistake from James Sharlott to score from the edge of the box.
Carter Bowdery almost hit straight back for the Royals, but Khari Ranson made a fantastic save to deny him.
Our goalkeeper was called into action again later in the half to prevent Omoregie scoring from close range, maintaining our three-goal lead.
With seven minutes to go, Theo Julienne threaded a lovely pass through to Dowman, who bundled the ball over the line to round off a sensational performance.
What It Means
Saturday’s victory was our seventh in a row in the U18 Premier League South, moving us to within one point of league leaders Chelsea.
What’s Next
Our under-18s take on Tottenham Hotspur in a North London derby on Tuesday, April 29. Kick-off at Sobha Realty Training Centre is scheduled for 11am (UK time).
Line-Ups
Arsenal XI: Ranson, King (Julienne, 76’), Ogunnaike, Onyekachukwu, Chapman, Ibrahim, Dowman, Copley, Zecevic-John (Casey, 67’), Murisa, Bailey-Joseph (O’Neill, 61’)
Subs (not used): Ismail, Philips
Reading XI: Sharlott, Neptune (Zie, 45’), Source (Irish, 70’), Booth, Duah, Harrison, Osho, Sackey, Omoregie (Dove, 60’), Bowdery, Coke-Miles-Smith (Fuller-Thompson, 74’)
Subs (not used): Welland
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