Two quickfire goals at the start of the 2nd half killed off a YM side that had led 1-0 and had been controlling the game.

A flood of injuries and absences has left YM desperately short on numbers in the opening games and they could only field the bare 11 in this game with Jamie Froude arriving at half-time to provide an option on the bench.

YM took the lead in the 10th minute when a Sam Jennings flick on was met by Luke Kasonde to sweep home his first of the season.  Although Unity always posed a threat, YM were generally handling the Unity attacks with confidence and YM really should have extended with Johnny Adey, Drew Tipper and Jennings all having decent openings.

The game turned on its head early in the 2nd half when a Shane Gibson backheader from a throw in looped up over the head of stand-in keeper Mark Lemm into the net.  Soon after a quick free-kick ended with Prince Masszquoi tormenting the YM defence before squaring to a teamate to tap-in.

YM then lost their way after this set-back and Unity could have had 2 or 3 more as YM over committed bodies to attacking situations.  YM did recover their composure in the final 20 minutes but could not create a clear cut opening and Unity continued to look the side likelier to score.

READING YMCA: LEMM, HUNTLEY, GREEN, FITZPATRICK, GIBSON, WAGNER, A TIPPER, EDMUNDS, JENNINGS, KASONDE, ADEY. Subs: FROUD (Replaced Wagner 75)

LEMMY'S MOM: MARK LEMM

YM's second string came out of a bruising encounter against SRCC with a valuable point, but will be rueing the chance to take all 3. With both teams missing a host of players, it appeared as though it would be a backs to the wall performance and to take anything on offer. Sidwell welcomed back Lewis Evans in to the side and handed Dan Newman his first start since returning from Australia.

For the second week running the Rapids got off to a poor start and were immediately on the back foot. Mistakes by Cornell and Rolfe were lucky to go unpunished as South Reading battered the YM goal. The first glimpse of the storm being weathered occured on 20 minutes when Sidwell and Simmonds combined to set Newman away on goal who flashed a fine strike just wide. YM were back in it and began to stamp so authority with Cornell biting in to tackles, Daly producing his usual box of tricks down the right and Simmonds cutting inside at every opportunity. Lewis Evans was enjoying a fine game down the YM left getting forward at every opportunity and linking well with Simmonds. Some slick passing saw Sidwell put Newman away a second time but the striker showed a touch of rustiness and was muscled off the ball. With YM flying and the SRCC midfield in disarray, DAN NEWMAN made the breakthrough, converting a pin point Daly cross to give YM the lead at half time.

The second period saw YM fly out the traps and get at the SRCC back 4 with Cornell lashing a shot just over and Dave Rolfe looking dangerous at set pieces. The turning point came on 60 minutes with the next goal crucial in deciding the outcome. Cornell set Newman off on a mazy run down the right as he drifted effortlessly past 2 defenders and squared for Alan Ilsley to tap home and seal the points, but the YM striker managed to drag his shot wide as the score remained the same. The galvanised SRCC and they came at YM looking for a way back in, with the Rapids front line always looking dangerous on the break. The back 4 of Chris Leach, Mark Ilsley, Dave Rolfe and Lewis Evans did a stern job in keeping out a tough home attack force but could nothing when a set piece fell to a home forward who made no mistake from 8 yards. SRCC sensed all 3 points were up for grabs but the 90 minutes were up.

Sidwell said 'I would have possibly taken a point before the game with the amount of players we had out but after a poor start I thought we played really well and deserved all 3. The key point was clearly the miss but Alan will bounce back and im sure will make up for it very shortly. SRCC will cause lots of teams problems and were also down on personel but gave us a real scrap. This division is sure to be a tight one!'

YM RAPIDS: JOHNSON, LEACH, M ILSLEY, ROLFE, EVANS, DALY, CORNELL, SIDWELL, SIMMONDS, NEWMAN, A ILSLEY. Subs: SUTTON (Replaced A Ilsley 60), O BOYLE (Replaced Newman 70)

SIDDERS MOM: LEWIS EVANS