Westwood looked dead and buried at 2-0 down with just 15 minutes remaining but a dramatic last gasp fightback from Westwood salvaged a point against improving Reading YMCA.

YM had bounced back from a run of poor results to beat Woodley Town the previous week but player manager Mark Lemm was forced to make 5 changes to that side with several players away on a stag do including top scorer Drew Tipper.  But Lemm was able to hand a full debut to striker Dan Newman whilst Chris Lemm was included in the 1st team squad for the first time since breaking his leg a year ago.

Westwood were coming off the back of a surprise 4-2 home defeat to Mortimer and they look determined to take out their frustrations on their local rivals as they tore into the visitors from the first whistle.

It was YM that took the lead though when a Westwood player was adjudged to have handled a Nader Edmunds cross.  After a short delay whilst referee Colin Bravey consulted his assistant, YM defender Adam Cassidy stepped up to take the penalty only to see his kick saved by keeper Neil Graham - it was the first time YM have missed a kick in over 20 attempts stretching back 2 years.

But when the rebound fell to a Westwood defender he was caught in possession allowing Darren Cornell to sling a cross back into the box where Cassidy was still lurking to head the ball home.

It was a passage of play that would repeat itself throughout the 90mins - slick attacking play coupled with anxious defensive work.

Westwood responded well to this setback and proceeded to dominate territory and possession for much of the half.  Chance after chance went begging for Westwood with Dave Green, Ashley Baynham, Sam Tucker and Jason Awbery all guilty of glaring misses whilst the YM defence looked all at sea at times as they struggle do deal with the incessant Westwood attacks.  Westwood were virtually playing with 5 attackers for the entire period which did allow YM to hit them on the counterattack and the Westwood defence proved to be equally vulnerable as YM also spurned numerous chances.

The best of them fell to Newman who was presented with an open goal after great work from Andrew Heath but inexplicably the striker elected to switch the ball back to Heath who was quickly closed down.  More good work from Heath saw him reach the byline before pulling the ball back for Edmunds whose shot was superbly saved by Graham and the same player was on hand again to deny Andy Bullett and Tim Sidwell in quick succession with YM piling on the pressure.

Somehow the score remained at 1-0 to YM but it was a breathless half with all to play for in the second period.

The second half started more sedately with YM enjoying the advantage of the slope although they were forced into a defensive reshuffle when Ben Green went off injured which allowed Chris Lemm to come on to make his comeback.
Cornell was drafted into the backline and did an admirable job for the remainder of the half in an unusual role for him.

YM were looking much more comfortable and the midfield duo of Sidwell and Bullett began to dictate play with some excellent passing.  The YM defence had now got a grip on Westwood's lively forwards whilst their attacking threesome of Newman, Heath and Sam Jennings were combining well and always looked a threat.

And it looked like the game was over midway through the half when superb play from Man of the Match Heath saw him feed strike partner Newman who outpaced the Westwood defence before calmly slotting past Graham.

Westwood through even more men forwards and it was now end to end stuff again with Westwood doing everything they could to pull the deficit back.
With 75 minutes gone the always dangerous Sam Tucker sped down the right wing before drilling a cross across the goalmouth where a Westwood player was waiting at the backpost to bundle the ball in.

At 2-1 with 15 minutes left, Westwood suddenly saw light at the end of the tunnel but it should have then been 3-1 to YM when the tireless Heath outpaced the Westwood defence before hitting a cross shot past Graham and with the ball heading towards the net Newman raced in to make sure.  But the officials adjudged that Newman was offside despite claims that he had come from behind Heath.

YM keeper, Scott Mortimer then made a brave save at the feet of sub Ryan Adams as Westwood again piled on the pressure.

With 5 minutes left, Westwood then forced an equalizer when a whipped in corner glanced off the head of a YM defender past the despairing hands of keeper Mortimer.

With several player struggling with injuries YM were forced to take off Bullett and bring on club coach Paul Meakin for his first start as they battled to preserve a point.  Amazingly, it was YM who almost snatched the winner when great work from Heath saw him blast a volley towards goal only to see it cannon off the post to safety.

YM player manager Lemm said "It must have been an exciting match to watch and could have easily been 7-7 but I don't think either manager will be pleased with the defensive performances today.  Westwood were like Keegan-era Newcastle in alot of ways as they threw players into attack and they could have had a hatful in the 1st half but at the same time I thought our front 3 were on fire today and caused them all sorts of problems.

We were relatively comfortable in the 2nd half but Westwood showed their fighting spirit and when they pulled a goal back it was also going to be difficult with several of our players out on their feet.

Everyone seems to be intent on handing the title to Newbury at the moment but Westwood are the closet to them and if they attack like they did today they will cause anyone problems."

READING YMCA: MORTIMER, M LEMM, B GREEN (replaced by C LEMM 45mins), CASSIDY, CORNELL, BULLETT (replaced by MEAKIN 85mins), SIDWELL, HEATH, EDMUNDS, JENNINGS, NEWMAN SUBS C LEMM, MEAKIN.

Reading YMCA Rapids made it 8 wins from their last 9 games and maintained their promotion challenge with a 5-1 win over Winnersh Rangers.

The Rapids went 5-0 up through Lee Worth (2), Steve Woodrow (2) and Marcus Sanigar before Winnersh pulled a goal back in the 2nd half.

Player manager Paul O'Boyle said "We've now got just 3 games to play and although we need other results to go our away we just have to focus on trying to win those last 3 and let the rest take care of itself."

Danny Fitzpatrick took last weeks MOM award with a workmanlike display in the 1-0 win over Woodley Town. Back in his favoured centre back role, Fitz made sure that the YM back 3 snuffed out any pressure and sttod strong for the vital 3 points.