Reading FC Under 21s moved through to the quarter-finals of the Premier League 2 play-offs with a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough.
A crowd of more than 800 people in attendance at the Select Car Leasing Stadium saw the Royals overcome Boro thanks to a brace from Adrian Akande in the round of 16.
Noel Hunt’s side have enjoyed an excellent campaign in PL2 and ended in sixth spot with 10 wins, five draws and five defeats which earned them a spot in the play-offs.
“It was a really tough game, Boro came with a game plan and were tough and physical,” said manager Hunt.
“We tried to get our quality out, it didn’t come as much in the first-half as it did in the second-half.
“It came through for us, Adrian with two great finishes which we know he’s capable of so we’re delighted.
“We’re lucky to play at the stadium, this place is a fortress for us and is special to us.
“I said to our guys, if you don’t get three shots on goal or three corners in the first 10 minutes then you’re not doing it right
“We’ve got to start on the front foot and be aggressive, that’s how we try and play.
“Once we got the structure right in the key areas they adapted to it really well and found the spaces.
“We had to stay calm. I want us to play with emotion because the game is about emotion. It’s controlled aggression as well.
“We weathered it well and didn’t react.
Hunt also spoke on Akande and praised his work after his two goals helped the team progress.
He continued: “He’s been great. He’s an unbelievable character, he’s the strongest kid in the world.
“He has his own set of routines, he’s his own man. I’m delighted for him because he’s out first, in last, spends hours out on the training ground.
“He’s the hardest working kid, his numbers are through the roof, his availability is through the roof. It’s a pleasure to work with people like him.”
Hunt also praised the support of the fans and has encouraged even more to get down to the SCL for their next match.
He said: “The atmosphere they brought today was amazing, the boys fed off it. You could see that at the end, they loved it so the more, the merrier.
“It’s good to see these boys play in a different environment. A lot of these boys it’s the first time for them so the jitters come into it and with the reaction to the crowd.”
The Royals will now face either Nottingham Forest or Fulham in the qurater-finals and will find out their opponents on Monday
Hunt’s young side also have a cup final to look ahead to when they face Marlow in the final of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup on Wednesday, May 15 at Sandhurst Town and Bracknell Town’s SB Stadium.
