Barclays U18s: Fulham and Reading in final

Barclays U18 Premier League final to be held at Craven Cottage on 19 May

Fulham survived a dramatic comeback as they beat Sunderland 4-3 to progress to the final of the Barclays Under-18 Premier League, where they will face Reading.

The Cottagers, who won the last Premier Academy League before the inaugural Barclays Under-21 and Under-18 competitions were launched this season, raced in to a 4-0 lead with free-flowing football at Motspur Park.

Goals from 16-year-old French striker Moussa Dembele and Cauley Woodrow gave Steve Wigley’s side a 2-0 lead before a fine finish from Patrick Roberts and a fourth goal from Stephen Arthurworrey seemingly put Fulham out of reach.

But, in the final 20 minutes, George Honeyman pulled a goal back for Sunderland before Victor Zapata-Caicedo got a second on 84 minutes and Carl Lawson made it 4-3 on 90 minutes to set up a tense finish.

Fulham held on and they will face Reading in the final at Craven Cottage, after the Royals emphatically defeated Everton 4-0 at Hogwood Park.

Eamonn Dolan’s side controlled the match from the outset and Jack Stacey’s long distance drive gave Reading the lead midway through the first half.

Dominic Hyam doubled Reading’s advantage just before half-time and, with first-team manager Nigel Adkins looking on, two late strikes from Craig Tanner put the game to bed.

The final will be played on Sunday 19 May at Craven Cottage (1pm kic-off), the home of Fulham’s first team.

Queens Park Rangers were crowned champions of the Under-18 Professional Development League Two after beating Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the play-off final at Loftus Road.

A penalty from Peter Skapetis proved to be the difference in a tight contest at QPR's home ground.

Barclays Under-18 Premier League semi-finals

Wednesday 15 May
Fulham (Dembele, Woodrow, Roberts, Athurworrey) 4-3 Sunderland (Honeyman, Zapata-Caicedo, Lawson)
Reading (Stacey, Hyam, Tanner 2) 4-0 Everton

Barclays Under-18 Premier League final

Fulham v Reading, 19 May, 1pm, Craven Cottage

Download full fixture list here  | For full results click here

To view the league tables after the qualificaton stage, click here

You can follow developments on Twitter with the Premier League's account@premierleague or via the hashtag #BU18PL