3 Takeaways from Chelsea’s FA Cup triumph over Reading

Academy players getting a chance at the top-flight level

When Hayes released the lineup just an hour before kickoff, Blues fans rejoiced at the fact that they may have the chance to see four bright young stars. After netting a hat-trick with the academy during the mid-week, Aimee Claypole played in her second senior match in the month of March.

On top of the young standout striker coming in for Reiten in the second half, Hayes turned to three other academy players late in the match with the game in hand. 18-year-old Reanna Blades, Cerys Brown and Ashanti Akpan all came on to finish the match, and earn their first competitive debuts at the senior level for the west Londoners.

While none of them saw much significant game time, it is a confidence boost for the three of them as they seek to make their make in senior football in the near future. Having made a massive impact in the Southern Division at the academy level, this was a reward for all their hard work so far this season. Claypole, Brown, and Akpan have combined to start in every match this season which Blades came off the bench twice. For players like Katie Dungate, these players receiving time at this point in their career bodes well for them going forward. Sure, it was not the usual substitutions by Hayes, but it was hard not to smile as four academy stars stepped foot on a senior pitch in the same game.