A late winner from George Williams saw Exeter City U21 see off Reading U21 4-3 in a thrilling encounter at St James Park.
The young City side overcame a two goal deficit in the first half with goals from Ethan Sutherland and Ajay Matthews, before Sutherland put the Grecians back in front through a penalty kick. A resurgence from the travelling Reading squad saw Kevin Nicholson's side pegged back again, however George Williams popped up with a late winner to secure all three points.
The Grecians resumed their Premier League Cup campaign three weeks on from their 5-3 win away to Bristol City U21 with the visit of Reading U21 to St James Park. The Royals made the journey South-West in search of their first win of the tournament, having failed to secure a single point in their opening three matches.
Ed Turns was named in the starting XI once more, alongside summer loan signing Dan Watts. Liam Oakes was handed the captains armband once more after his impressive display at the Robins High Performance Centre where he managed two assists.
Kick-off
Exeter City enjoyed the first real chance of the game nine minutes in when Louie Cayless dribbled from the midfield to the edge of the Reading penalty area. While the academy graduate had passing options to his right, he opted to go alone however his drilled attempt was placed narrowly wide of the far post.
The visitors responded minutes later when Michael Bampoh received the ball just inside the City penalty area. A powerful shot from the young Royal towards the bottom-right of Frankie Phillips' goal was fortunately halted by Vincent Harper though, whose outstretched boot cleared the ball away.
A breakthrough came 18 minutes in when Matteo Dashi strode forward into the City penalty area and found Sean Patton close by, where the Reading number nine struck low to the bottom right of the goal and beat Phillips to open scoring.
With 25 minutes on the clock, the Grecians looked to respond as Ethan Sutherland burst down the left wing and flashed the ball across the face of the Reading goal where Ajay Matthews, however the Millwall loanee fluffed his lines and placed his effort wide of the post.
The visitors punished this error shortly after the half-an-hour mark, when Emmanuel Osho cleverly cut the ball back to Patton inside the penalty area. The opposition striker smartly slotted the ball into the top left of the City goal for his second of the evening.
As half-time loomed, Cayless was brought down by a Reading defender on the edge of the box to win a free kick for the Grecians. Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Sutherland stepped forward to take the set piece, where he wrapped his left foot around the ball to find the top right and reduce the deficit with minutes left on the clock.
A fantastic four minute turnaround for the Grecians followed when Ajay Matthews ran through the Reading defence and calmly slotted the ball past Joshua Welland to level the game in no time. Elliott Swallow blew his whistle for the break moments later, with the momentum swung firmly in the City's favour.
Ten minutes into the second half, Ed Turns was brought down inside the Reading penalty area following a corner for the Grecians and forced Elliott Swallow to award a penalty. After profiting from a set piece in the opening 45 minutes, Sutherland stepped up once more and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right to put City in front.
With the Grecians having completed the comeback, Peter Scot's side desperately went in search of a goal to bring them back level. Kevin Mfuamba received the ball on the edge of the City penalty area and let fly a driven shot to the bottom right, though Phillips was there to tip the defender's effort past the post for a corner which the Grecians defended well.
A lifeline was thrown to the visitors with 15 minutes left on the clock after a mixup at the back from City. Substitute Jerae Jones won the ball inside the penalty area and shot low towards the bottom right, however his attempt took a heavy deflection and rolled past a wrong-footed Phillips who had anticipated his initial effort.
Inspired by the late rally in the first half, the Grecians bound forward with minutes left on the clock. Liam Cartwright cut the ball back into the Reading penalty area where George Williams took a couple of neat touches and found the bottom left to re-establish City's lead with two minutes on the clock.
In a bid to draw level once more, the Royals won a corner inside stoppage time where Torin Ntege rose high to head goalwards, though his effort was stopped by Phillips who produced the finest save of the evening to tip it behind for another corner where the Grecians held firm.
Elliott Swallow's whistle came shortly after, bringing an end to another thrilling encounter at St James Park.
Up Next
The Grecians are in Emirates FA Cup first round action on Saturday in a visit to the Accu Stadium to face Huddersfield Town. Tickets are available now, with more information available by clicking the image below.
Match Details
Exeter City U21 Starting XI
Phillips (GK), Cartwright, James, Turns (Alsop 80'), Harper (Newport 80'), Cayless, Oakes (C), Watts, Sutherland, Williams, Matthews (Lang 46')
Exeter City U21 Unused Subs
Aston, Revell, Bellotti, Swift
Exeter City U21 Goalscorers
Sutherland (43', 55'), Matthews (45+1'), Williams (87')
Exeter City U21 Yellow Cards
Harper (15', Turns (68'), Cartwright (86')
Reading U21 Starting XI
Welland (GK), Osoho, Logan, Mfuamba, Harrison, Beacroft (C), Barough (Coke-Miles-Smith 72'), Bowdery (Sackey 72'), Patton (Ntege 72'), Dashi, Bampoh (Jones 72')
Reading U21 Unused Subs
Rose (GK), Irish, Cliff
Reading U21 Goalscorers
Patton (18', 33'), Jones (75')
Reading U21 Yellow Cards
Harrison (48'), Mfuamba (68'), Jones (74'), Logan (83')
Attendance
250