The FA Youth Cup fourth round proper is underway with nine teams having already made it through to the fifth round.
Charlton Athletic saw off Watford in a 3-1 win to get the round up and running. The Addicks, who beat Liverpool in the third round, came from behind, scoring a dramatic 97th minute equaliser from Sam Washington-Amoah after Raynon Richman equalised with 89 minutes on the watch.
Nine-time FA Youth Cup winners Chelsea are through after seeing off Reading in a 3-2 win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. England youth international Ryan Kavuma-McQueen was at the double while Reggie Watson also made the scoresheet.
Stevenage made history, reaching the fifth round for the first time in the club’s history with a 3-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers. Lenny Brown fired Boro into the lead before Wanderers equalised, only for Stevenage’s Riley England to restore their lead and Faith Mustafa gave the visitors some breathing room.
Elsewhere, a 2-1 win over Bromley extended Ipswich Town’s journey in the competition, with goals from Will Unadike and Nelson Eze.
Everton needed penalties to overcome West Ham United after playing out a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. The Blues then won 3-0 in the shootout, with Douglass Lukjancik saving three spot-kicks in a row.
Last season’s semi-finalists Manchester City put five past Arsenal in a 5-2 triumph at the Joie Stadium. The hosts were four goals to the good by the break courtesy of Kaden Braithwaite, Tyrone Samba and Christian Dunbar-McDonald, before substitute Xavier Parker got in on the act.
Burnley cruised into the fifth round with a 5-1 win over Norwich City. Kian McMahon-Brown completed his hat-trick ten minutes into the second half, going on to score a fourth, while Brieden Derbyshire also found the back of the net.
On the same night, Swansea City were 2-1 winners against ten-men Leeds United after Billy Clarke netted a last-gasp extra-time winner at the LNER Community Stadium.
And defending champions Aston Villa beat Fleetwood Town 3-2. The Villains, who overcame Manchester City in last year’s showpiece at Villa Park, found themselves trailing 1-0 at the interval before goals from Bradley Burrowes, who bagged a brace, and Jack McGrath flipped the script.
The action continues this evening and into next week, with seven ties remaining at this stage of the competition.
