Reading YMCA made it 10 wins from their last 11 league games with a narrow 1-0 victory over relegation threatened Woodcote/Stoke Row.

YM went into the game without Sam Cripps and the injured Chris Lemm but Darren Cornell returned to the YM starting line-up for the first time since December and youngster Jamie Froude also made his 1st appearance for the club since signing on transfer deadline day. Woodcote continued to miss Jake Dillon and James Worsfold whilst Tyrone Aldridge was also absent with a back injury.

Woodcote dominated the opening 20 minutes without creating a clear cut chance but YM pulled themselves back into the game and forged the first real chance of the match when Cornell played a superb 50 yard through ball into the path of Drew Tipper who was left clean through on goal. But Woodcote keeper Dan Ball did well to rush out and smother the shot.

Sam Jennings then went close for YM with a drilled left foot shot and Nader Edmunds should have done better when he took advantage of a defensive slip to home in on goal with keeper Ball again doing well.

Both sides were battling hard with both sets of defenders in top form whilst YM's Cornell and Woodcote's Dillon stood out.

The game sparked to life on the hour when an off-the-ball incident between Woodcote's Mark Edward-Smith and YM's Adam Cassidy saw both players receive a yellow card and, in the case of Cassidy, his second yellow. YM manager Mark Lemm was forced to withdraw Sam Jennings and replace him with Luke Kasonde as YM saw out the remaining half hour with 10 men.

As often happens the sending off saw YM step up their performance whilst Woodcote began to lose their way and were not helped when shortly afterwards YM took the lead. Kasonde was brought down on the edge of the box and Tipper's subsequent free-kick was hit sublimely into the bottom corner.

Woodcote were always a threat from set pieces and particularly the long throw ins from Dillon but apart from a Mike Higley half chance they couldn't really penetrate the superb YM rearguard with Ben Green in particularly impressive form. If anything YM were the better team in the closing stages and could have extended their lead but for some poor decision making in the final third.

YM manager Lemm said "After last week's cup disappoinment this was a massive test of character for us and, apart from the first 20 minutes, I was really pleased with the way the lads applied themselves.

I've always rated Woodcote and in my opinion they should be a top 6 side so we knew how tough this would be especially as they are on a decent run at the moment.

The majority of our wins this season have been by the odd goal and, although it would be nice to win by 3 or 4 every week, it does show that in close games we have the right qualities to come away with a result."

READING YMCA: MORTIMER, ALLEN, GREEN, CASSIDY, EDMUNDS, FITZPATRICK, D TIPPER (replaced by M LEMM 89mins), CORNELL, ADEY, ABERY (replaced by FROUDE 85mins), JENNINGS (replaced by KASONDE 60mins) SUBS M LEMM, KASONDE, FROUDE.

LEMMY'S MOM - BEN GREEN

YM Rapids fell to their first defeat of the season against top side Turnpike Sports. YM went in to the game with no less than 8 regular players missing and the home side's fire power steared them to a comfortable win. Paul Towner stood out for YM on an otherwise largely forgettable day.

YM Boss Paul O Boyle said - 'we were hoping to go unbeaten in the league this season but we had far too many players missing today through injury, family and work commitments and came up against a strong Turnpike side'

YM RAPIDS: HARVEY, TOWNER, ROLFE, ILSLEY, EVANS, BULLETT, O BOYLE, WOOD, SUTTON, MORRISON, MASLEN

BOILERS MOM - PAUL TOWNER