SAM Smith grabbed a brace as Reading FC Under 23s were held to a 2-2 draw by Norwich City in Premier League 2.

The 19-year-old striker scored twice in the first half only for Royals to toss the lead away after a strong Norwich fightback.

It took Smith just three minutes to put Scott Marshall’s men ahead yesterday with a looping header over Canaries keeper Aston Oxborough.

Norwich threatened to equalise soon after when Todd Cantwell effort flew narrowly wide of the post from a Pierre Xavier Fonkeu cross.

The lively start continued, with both sides seeing strong penalty appeals turned down midway through the first half.

Norwich were first to have a shout when Tristan Abrahams collided with Gabriel Osho, with the referee only awarding a corner.

And from that flag-kick Royals broke before Danny Loader went down in the Norwich area after tangling with Oluwarotimi Odusina, but again the spot-kick appeals were turned down.

Norwich continued to press for a goal of their own as Adam Phillips hit a free-kick into the wall then Savvas Mourgos blasted wide of George Legg’s post.

But their task became that much harder just before the half-hour mark when Reading doubled their lead.


Josh Barrett set Jake Sheppard free before his cross was powerfully headed home by Smith, despite Oxborough getting a hand to it.

However, Reading were pegged back shortly before the break by Mourgos, the Greek midfielder curling home a brilliant free-kick that gave Legg no chance.

Legg was then called into action by Todd Cantwell early in the second-half, though Oxborough was also kept busy by Barrett’s well-struck free kick.

However, luck was on Reading’s side soon after when another sensational free kick from Mourgos struck the outside of the post and bounced away to safety.

But Royals did see their lead wiped out two minutes from time after giving away a penalty.

Axel Andresson mistimed his challenge on Glenn Middleton and was sent off for his troubles after a second yellow card.

And Cantwell held his nerve by sending Legg the wrong way to make it 2-2 and deny Royals victory.

Reading U23: Legg, Holmes, Medford-Smith, Osho, Andresson, East, Sheppard, Frost, Barrett (House 74), Loader (Holsgrove 74), Smith. Subs not used: Driscoll, Howe, Shokunbi.

Norwich City U23: Oxborough, Sambu, Aarons, Phillips, Martin, Odusina, Cantwell, Mourgos, Abrahams, Fonkeu (Higgs 64), Aransibia (Middleton 54). Subs not used: Hallett, Wallis, Payne.