READING YMCA  1  VS  1 COOKHAM DEAN - MATCH REPORT TBC

READING YMCA:M LEMM, LEE, GREEN, FITZPATRICK, BICKNELL, ABERY, CAYZER, EDMUNDS (replaced by WAGNER 70mins), D TIPPER, C LEMM, JENNINGS SUBSWAGNER, M SEYMOUR (not used).

LEMMY'S MOM - MATT BICKNELL

YM's second string took a massive step closer to division one football with a hard fought win over Highmoor Ibis A. On a baking hot afternoon at fortress Pangbourne, manager Paul O Boyle went in to the game with a full strength side for this must win encounter.

The Rapids came flying out the blocks from minute one with Luke Kasonde causing havoc in the away defence. Some great interplay between him and Dave Morrison led to the first chance of the match with Kasonde shooting narrowly wide. Morrison then flashed the ball across the goal after being put in by Woodrow, leaving Sidwell standing with his hands on his head knowing he should have been there. The breakthrough came on 20 minutes when the Rapids powerhouse fired in a low shot across the keeper after more top wing play by Kasonde. This spurred YM with Highmoor being reduced to a couple of long range efforts that failed to trouble Jamie Froud. YM soon made it 2 when Kasonde was bundled over in the box and Morrison dispatched the resulting penalty with aplomb.

This signalled the away sides best spell with Steve Jennings defying the years to take Highmoor forward at every opportunity and they nearly pulled a goal back after a mix up in the YM defence allowed the striker in but some excellent defending meant it stayed at 2-0. At the other end a Chris Leach clearance fell to Kasonde who flew clear of the Highmoor defence and only had to slot the ball home but the YM hit man fluffed his lines and shanked wide from 8 yards as the half drew to a close.

The second period began with Highmoor on the front foot as YM were sluggish out the blocks. The away side were chucking everything at YM but with Sean Kenny, Dave Rolfe, Adam Cassidy and Chris Leach at the back holding firm it was going to take something special to get through. As it happens it was the most dubious of penalties that let them back in. Kenny was adjudged to have tripped a Highmoor forward who went down with astounding ease and the score was 2-1. The standard onslaught for the equaliser then enused but Darren Cornell was enjoying yet another fine game in the holding midfield role and setting YM away wherever possible. The turning point came on 60 minutes with the introduction of Lewis Evans. The lively winger made an immediate impace down the left both ghosting past defenders with ease and allowing the defence some respite. His first run resulted in Woodrow going close and he then fed the record YM appearance maker, who squared to Sidwell to thunder a shot goalwards only to see it miraculously saved by the Highmoor keeper. YM were now in the acendancy and it was Evans who made the game safe after waltzing round 4 Highmoor players before pulling the ball back for Kasonde to finish the match 3-1 in YM's favour.

Boss O Boyle said: 'This was always going to be a tough game and so it proved but we weathered the storm and came back strongly to get the points. 2 more wins and we are there'

READING YMCA RAPIDS: FROUDE, LEACH, ROLFE, CASSIDY, KENNY, DALY, SIDWELL, CORNELL, WOODROW, D MORRISON, KASONDE. SUBS R TIPPER (Replaced Sidwell 80) EVANS (Replaced D Morrison 60)

BOILER'S MOM - LEWIS EVANS