Reading YMCA booked a Maidenhead Norfolkians Cup semi-final meeting with Waltham after a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Wycombe Judo.

YM were expecting a tough game against a judo side sitting 2nd in the Wycombe League but, despite being well below their best, there was a big gulf in class and the scoreline could have been far worse for Judo had YM not stepped off the gas in the closing stages.

Judo actually started the better of the 2 sides and should have gone ahead when a cross found a Judo player unmarked at the back post only to blaze the ball over the bar.  YM were finding it difficult to get into any sort of rhythm and looked lethargic but took the lead when striker Sam Jennings picked up the ball 25 yards from goal before gliding past a defender and planting a left foot shot into the bottom corner.

Striker partner Martin Abery then capitalised on a defensive slip to bare down on goal and slot past the Judo keeper for 2-0.  YM were beginning to look more like themselves and Stuart White, making his full debut for YM went close with an imaginative lob before great work from Steve Daly saw him square the ball across goal for the onrushing Drew Tipper to power home.

A goalmouth scramble saw a Ben Green shot cleared off the line but YM duly lame it 4 just before half-time with the goal of the match as a Green long ball found Jennings who used his chest to deflect the ball into the path of White who slammed in for his 1st goal fort he club.

The Young Men were shocked at the start of the 2nd half when Judo were awarded a penalty for an Adam Cayzer hand ball which was subsequently despatched but regained the lead immediately when a Jason Wagner free-kick was headed across goal by White allowing Abery to head in on the goaline.  Jennings hit the post later in the half but the score ended at 5-1 with YM ending their activity for the year on a high.

YM boss Mark Lemm said "The conditions made it a difficult game and it was hard to play much football but we were clinical in front of goal and Judo never really got a look in.  Its great to end the 1st half of the season on a high and we've got plenty to play for after Xmas a cup semi-final and a BTC Quarter Final to come and we are still in contention for the league.  We've only been outplayed in 1 game, at Sandhurst Devels,  but apart from that we have at least been the equal of every other side we have played. So, we can be positive about 2010 although there is plenty of improvement to be made if we want to win something."

READING YMCA:HODGETTS, DALY, GREEN, FITZPATRICK, LEE, WHITE, CAYZER, WAGNER (replaced by M LEMM 65mins), D TIPPER, ABERY, JENNINGS SUBS M LEMM, ADEY (not used).

LEMMY'S MOM - MARTIN ABERY

YM's second string made it comfortably through to the next round of the Berks and Bucks with a 2-0 win over Milton Keynes based MK Titans. The day got off to a bad start when the away side got stuck in traffic and turned up at 1.30pm for a 1.30pm KO but stand in manager Tim Sidwell didn't allow this to affect the Rapids preperation, as they flew out the blocks and tore in to a cold Titans side. On a bobbly pitch neither side could really play attractive football but it was YM making all the running with James Atkinson and Luke Kasonde both going close. It was the former who made the breakthrough on 20 minutes as the pacy winger made all the running down the right after a great ball by Chris Leach, beating the full back and slotting the ball under the onrushing Titans keeper. Titans then came back in to the game after warming up, with Adam Cassidy and Dave Rolfe in commanding form there was no way through. Sean Kenny was enjoying another solid game with some crunching tackles and decent set piece delivery, but the game belonged to Darren Cornell and especially Jules Baker. Baker was making his debut as a centre midfielder for the rapids and took the game by the scruff of the neck, spraying passes around, biting in to tackles and constantly working box to box. It was Baker who fed Dave Morrison on 40 minutes, and the YM hitman showed what he does best by ghosting past 3 Titans and smashing the ball home from 20 yards in to the bottom right hand corner. This goal knocked the stuffing out of the away side and YM went in 2 goals to the good.

The second period carried on in much the same vein with YM repelling the Titans onslaught and hitting the away side on the counter attack. A combination of poor decision making and poor finishing meant the score stayed at 2-0. Woodrow, Kasonde and Cornell all had efforts off target while Ian Harvey made an outstanding stop on 75 minutes to deny the Titans a way back in to the game. YM stood tall and the game was won.

Stand In Boss Sidwell 'This was a really imprerssive performance on a bobbly pitch against a tough side. The lads played some nice football and also dug in when needed. If only all games were this easy to manage!!'

YM RAPIDS: HARVEY, LEACH, ROLFE, CASSIDY, KENNY, ATKINSON, CORNELL, BAKER, WOODROW, KASONDE, D MORRISON. SUBS: Evans (Replaced Woodrow 55), T Morrison (Replaced Leach 65)

SIDDERS MOM - JULES BAKER