Reading fans who sang “school in the morning” as their team played Albion under-21s at the Amex were quite right.

The player whose penalty sent the Royals out of the EFL Trophy is in Year 11 and did indeed go to school this morning.

Harry Howell, 15, stepped off the bench, asked to take the fifth spot-kick in a shoot-out and calmly sent former Manchester United goalkeeper Joel Pereira the wrong way.

Albion won the last-16 tie 3-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes.

Among those cheering Harry were staff from St Philip Howard School in Barnham, including his science teacher and form tutor.

Head of year Matt Bonner said: “He has just had his mocks and now he has scored the winning penalty.

“He’s an incredibly humble lad so you wouldn’t know how amazing he is at school.

“He is all about letting everyone else shine so it is great to see him do this. It’s very well deserved.”

Like his cousin Jack Hinshelwood, Harry has come through with Albion from the under-sevens.

He is also great mates with Freddie Simmonds, who was on the bench for the Reading game. Both are England under-16 internationals.

Harry, who lives in Worthing, turns 16 in April.

His dad Jamie was a talented midfielder on the Sussex circuit.

He is now assistant manager at Bognor and was allowed to miss their Isthmian League fixture so he could get to the Albion cup tie.