Reading YMCA’s five match unbeaten run came to end as they went down 1 – 0 to Woodcote in a tight clash of last year's champions and runners up. YM have shown some of their trademark resolve in recent weeks allowing them to string together a fine run of results but Woodcote are still in the mix for the title and could yet cause a surprise with Highmoor/IBIS still to play.

On the small Woodcote pitch, despite a fine surface, games are usually scrappy but end to end and this was the pattern that the fixture took. Woodcote opened the game well, playing by far the better football, stronger in the tackle and in the air however but YM were carving out the more meaningful chances with greater regularity. Young Leon Mannion, who is growing in stature with each passing week, had YM’S first chance. Mannion collected the ball 35 yards out with his back to goal and under heavy pressure but he was able to turn goalwards and outpace the Woodcote backline and bare down on goal. However, despite a powerful strike left footed strike from Mannion, the keeper was able to turn convincing away for a YM corner.

YM had a series of corners which they were unable to convert despite excellent delivery from Drew Tipper but it was Woodcote’s own error’s which looked most likely to give them the lead. Woodcote defender Micheal Higley went to pass across goal but over hit his pass straight to Mannion but again the Woodcote keeper was on hand to close down the shot and, although the rebound fell invitingly for Martin Abery he couldn’t quite wrap his foot around it and shot wide from a tight angle.

Back at the other end Woodcote’s aerial presence was causing problems for YM. After YM failed to clear a cross adequately another cross was met by keeper Stephen Marshall but, under pressure from James Worsfold, the ball fell nicely to Paul Knox who slid the ball into YM’s defenceless goal.

YM were still struggling to keep possession but continued to create chances at regular intervals. Abery climbed well to meet a corner but his header sailed over the bar and then headed flick from Tipper was superbly tipped round the post.

Whilst Woodcote had been the better side in the 1st half, YM started the 2nd half on the offensive with Naz Edmunds and Adam Cayzer turning in typically lung bursting performances whilst Tipper was add a touch of finesse to complement the two workhorses.

Woodcote were no longer retaining posession and were knocking long balls up to Worsfold who was being marshalled well by centre backs Mark Lemm and Scott Allen.  YM continued to increase the pressure and were controlling possession an territory.

In a tense spell midway through the half , YM forced numerous corners and free kicks but despite good delivery from Tipper the ball, including 1 that hit the bar, the ball would just not fall for YM.  Another superb free-kick from Tipper was saved by the Woodcote keeper but rebounded straight to YM's Steve Daly but he volleyed over when a square ball across the box would have delivered a certain goal. YM's Mannion, unmarked and 3 yards out unfortunately took a pin point cross down with his arm when any other form of control would have left him with a golden opportunity. YM were now throwing men forward in an attempt to force a equalizer and were leaving themselves exposed. With 5 minutes left, Woodcote found themselves with a 2-on-1 situation but sub Ross Weatherstone took a poor touch and the chance was gone.YM had one last chance in the final seconds when Abery sprinted clear of the Woodcote defence but his attempted chip flew over the bar leaving YM wondering how they had not got something from the game.

LEMMYS MOM - MARK LEMM

YM Rapids kept up their faint promotion hopes with a hard fought 2-1 win over Goring. Going in to the game, boss Tim Sidwell had a strong squad to choose from and the game started at a frantic pace with neither side getting the ball down on a bobbly but grassy surface. Goring showed a fair amount of quality going forward but looked vunerable at the back, especially against the pace of Mandeep Nangla and Dan Sutton. It took a touch of fortune for YM to go in front on 20 minutes as Sidwell whipped in a free kick from wide that eluded everyone, flying in to the top corner. This galvanised YM as they poured forward with Alan Ilsley, Nangla and Steve Woodrow going close. Goring soon got back in to the game with some dangerous set pieces and it was from a corner a Goring player got free and nodded home with a suspicion of a push on YM stopper James Phillips. Sidwell then fired a thunderbolt free kick at the Goring goal which was tell tipped over, and from the resulting corner, found his second of the match from close range as YM went in 2-1 up.

The second period saw YM go for the win and with Darren Cornell anchoring the midfield it looked as though YM would get the third as Leach, Sutton, Chris Vaughan, Sidwell and Woodrow all went looking for the goal to seal the match but it failed to materialise. Goring went in search of the equaliser and battered the YM goal with some poor finishing and good defending accounting for the scoreline staying the same. YM escaped on 85 minutes when a Goring player crashed an unstoppable shot against the post but the ball bounced to safety and the yound men survived

Tim Sidwell said "Another tough game today and this division is getting a lot stronger. We really need to put games to bed when we have the chances but I thought overall we deserved the 3 points for the first hours play."

YM RAPIDS: PHILLIPS, LEACH, M ILSLEY, ROLFE, EVANS, NANGLA, SIDWELL, CORNELL, WOODROW, SUTTON, A ILSLEY. Subs: VAUGHAN (Replaced A Ilsley 60) Holloway (Replaced Cornell 70)

SIDDERS MOM - TIM SIDWELL