Reading YMCA move up to 2nd in the table after a hard fought 1-0 victory over Rabson Rovers.

A 1st half Adam Cassidy penalty proved to be the decisive moment but YM were forced to withstand intensive pressure 2nd half pressure from Rabson’s to secure the win.

YM started the game confidently and almost took the lead when a swift move saw Drew Tipper head across goal to strike partner Andrew Heath whose header was tipped over the bar by keeper John Bates.

Heath was proving to be a real handful for the Rabson’s defence with his non-stop running and he almost gave his side the lead when a quick Sidwell free-kick found him clean through on goal but despite executing a sublime lob over Bates the ball caught on the wind and drifted wide.

Crucially YM’s well drilled defensive trio of Adam Cassidy, David Rolfe and Mark Lemm were keeping the dangerous Matty Brown and makeshift striker, Scott Warwick relatively quiet which was allowing the Young Men to control the half.

Rabson’s did almost make a breakthrough when a deep cross was met by a great leap from wide man Craig Christian but his header was superbly tipped round the post by the excellent Scott Mortimer.

YM continued to look the team most likely to score and Bates had to make an athletic dive to thwart Drew Tipper.  The goal eventually came when another good YM move found Tipper in space at the back post, but before he could pull the trigger Rabsons skipper Elliot Dean handled the ball for a clear penalty.

Cassidy tucked away the resulting penalty although Bates almost managed to keep the ball out.

Despite not playing particularly well YM went into the break in charge of the game but mindful of the fact they had not exploited the opportunities that had come their way.

Rabson’s started the half with a new 4-3-3 formation and they immediately put YM on the backfoot.  YM slowly began to find themselves camped in their own half as they struggled to keep possession or create any attacking momentum.

YM were also giving fouls away in dangerous positions and Rabson’s Chris Huntley almost snatched an equalizer when his free-kick cannoned off the bar.

Rabson’s then had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when YM captain Tim Sidwell caught Warwick in the box.

But despite their pressure Rabson’s could not create the clear cut chance they needed and that they failed to do so was largely due to a magnificent defensive effort from the YM rearguard.

The last 20 minutes saw Rabson’s grow increasingly frustrated and they began to lose their discipline which saw the game increasingly punctuated by the referee’s whistle.

A couple of typically powerful Matty Brown runs almost got his side back into it in the closing minutes but YM hung on for a crucial 3 points.

YM manager Mark Lemm said “I thought we largely controlled the game in the 1st half without being at our best but the tactical changes that Rabson’s made in the 2nd half threw us a little bit and we were on the backfoot from then on.

For some reason we seem to lose our way when we go ahead in games and make life difficult for ourselves but on the positive side it’s a clean sheet for us and not many sides will stop Rabson’s from scoring.

Rabson’s have got a lot of talented individuals in their side and the team they put out is probably the strongest they have ever fielded against us.  They will pick up a lot of points in the 2nd half of the season and I’m glad we have got this fixture out the way.”

READING YMCA: MORTIMER, M LEMM, CASSIDY, ROLFE, CORNELL, KEARSEY, BULLETT, SIDWELL (replaced by D MORRISON 70mins), EDMUNDS, HEATH, D TIPPER (replaced by ZIELINSKI 70mins) SUBS D MORRISON, ZIELINSKI, MEAKIN (not used).

Reading YMCA Rapids were knocked out of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup but were encouraged by a spirited display which saw them push their more experienced opponents all the way.

Sean Harrison and new signing Ben Green were outstanding at the back for YM whilst Dean Williams was also impressive in midfield.

Williams twice went close to giving his side the lead with 2 fantastic strikes from outside the box whilst Rapids keeper Ian Harvey also made an awesome save to flick a Kintbury header round the post.

Kintbury finally managed to take the lead on 70 minutes from a corner and soon afterwards a Kintbury forward raced on to a through ball to slot past Harvey.

Rapids boss Paul O’Boyle said “It was a good experience for the lads to come and play at Kintbury as they have a good set up and a strong, experienced team.

I thought the lads did themselves proud today and we were a whisker away from causing an upset.”

READING YMCA RAPIDS: HARVEY, SANIGAR, HARRISON, B GREEN, CALLOW, WILLIAMS, R TIPPER (replaced by WILSON 70mins), KISLUK, WOOD, MASLEN, SUTTON SUB WILSON.

BOILER’S MOM – BEN GREEN

YM wide man Naz Edmunds took the MOM award in the teams lacklustre display at Cookham Dean. Naz was, as ever, full of running as YM crashed out of the Berks & Bucks cup.