READING FC defeated Charlton Athletic 4-3 in a pulsating FA Youth Cup fourth-round clash after both teams finished with nine men.

Teenage striker Danny Loader was sent off shortly after scoring what proved to be the winning goal in extra time last night, with Royals team-mate Tom Holmes also receiving a red card at Welling’s Park View Road.

By then Addicks’ Daniel Birch had been sent off and, with Ben Dempsey suffering a late injury and with all their substitutions used, they too ended the game with nine players.

Loader twice went close for the visitors before Albie Morgan’s penalty gave Charlton a 15th minute lead after Jamal Balogan had tripped Jordan Zemura.

But Jordan Holsgrove fired into the bottom corner to draw Royals level moments before the break.

However, Charlton got themselves into a commanding position when they scored twice more within 20 minutes of the restart for a 3-1 lead with Samuel Nwosu and Alex Willis both netting from corners.

But David Dodd’s youngsters quickly pulled one back when Samuel Faniyan powered home a header from a Holsgrove free-kick.

And the visitors took the tie to extra time when Holsgrove made it 3-3 in the 94th minute.

Charlton then had Birch sent off for a second yellow card and it was while the hosts were down to 10 men that Loader’s angled shot went in off the post to put Royals 4-3 up.

Addicks were soon reduced to nine players when Dempsey limped off with all their subs already used.

And so, too, were Royals as Holmes and Loader were also sent off for second bookable offences.

It led to a frantic finish that saw Charlton’s Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu denied by the crossbar before Reading secured their place in the next round and a trip to Colchester United.

Charlton Athletic U18: Harvey, Birch, Zemura, Nwosu, Kirunda, Dempsey, Sarpong-Wiredu, Sarmiento (Carey 76), Doughty (French 90), Morgan, Willis (Isiaka 86). Subs not used: Osaghae, Godding.

Reading U18: Debois, Elva-Foutaine (Wilson 64), Odimayo, Holmes, Balogun, Buchanan, Faniyan, Coleman, Loader, Holsgrove, Nolan. Subs not used: Rosario, Simmo, Lawrence, Nevers.

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Swansea City U18s 2

Reading FC U18s 0

READING FC Under 18s were beaten 2-0 at Swansea City on Saturday.

Royals fielded a young side plus a number of Academy triallists for the clash.

But the Swans had the edge on the day as a Shaquille Wynter-Coles penalty and Mason Jones-Thomas strike clinched the win.

Royals U18s coach David Dodds said: “It was a really good learning experience for some of the younger boys about what’s required at that level.”

Swansea City U18: Lang, Lewis, Jones, Price (Williams 52), Evans, Cooper, Hazell, De Boer, Wynter-Coles (Fox 65), Cooper, Jones-Thomas. Subs not used: Reed, Roberts, Walsh.

Reading U18: Hillson, Pemberton, Obamakinwa, Philby (Sparta 58), Kaca, Omolabi, Saydee (Okuboyejo 75), McBeam, Stevens, Wallace (Olise 58), Hanson. Subs not used: Roberts, Sole.