Reading YMCA capped a bad few days by being comprehensively beaten 3-0 by mid table Sandhurst Devels on Wednesday evening.
 
The match was played at Berks County Sports with YM's regular home ground of Scours Lane and the small pitch suited a Devels side who are building momentum towards a Mad Stad Final appearance against Woodley Town at the end of May.
 
YM started slowly and went a goal behind when a quick Devels counter attack ended with a Sandhurst player free in the box where he blasted a shot into the roof of the net.
 
YM's Sam Jennings volleyed narrowly over the bar before keeper Scott Mortimer gifted Devels a 2nd when he kicked the ball straight at a Devels forward who gleefully tapped into the empty net.
 
YM manager introduced himself and Jamie Froude at the break but depsite a marginal improvement, Sandhurst's work rate was far better than the home side and they made it 3-0 when a midfielder arrived late in the box to slide the ball into the corner.
 
Jennings went close on a couple of occasions and Johnny Adey hit the bar with a fizzing shot but Devels should have made it 4-0 when Lemm bought down a foward in the box only for the penalty to be well saved by Mortimer.
 
Manager Lemm said "This was rock bottom for us and after having a really good season the wheels have come off in the last few games.  We haven't worked hard enough or shown enough desire in the last 2 games and that's a disgrace considering we have still had something to play for in each of those games.
 
These games have shown me where I need to improve the squad over the summer.  I'm here to win things not just go close and I need players who think the same."
 
READING YMCA: MORTIMER, GREEN, ALLEN, FITZPARTICK, ADEY, D TIPPER, CORNELL, SEYMOUR (replaced by FROUDE 45mins), KASONDE (replaced by M LEMM 45mins), JENNINGS, ABERY SUBS M LEMM, FROUDE.
 
LEMMY'S MOM: DARREN CORNELL

YM’s second string made hard work of a Taplow side that the Rapids had blasted for 12 goals earlier in the season. With midweek games causing havoc in terms of player availability, the away side turned up with a very different looking side an put up a strong rear guard action against a YM side that was looking to cement 2nd spot.

The rapids set their stall out early and battered the away goal with efforts from Dave Morrison, Steve Woodrow and Steve Wood all going close. At the other end Dave Rolfe and Ryan Tipper were both enjoying outstanding games for the home side with the latter hitting some crunching tackles to deny a pacey Taplow strike force. The golden opportunity of the half fell to Woodrow who was clean through on goal but could only skew his shot wide of the mark to see both team go in level.

The second period started in the same fashion with the ever lively Adam Cayzer bursting forward at every opportunity, and Sidwell finding gaps behind the front two in an attempt to get the all important goal. Dave Rolfe went close from a corner with a text book header but the Taplow keeper stood firm. Sidwell then found some space out wide right and put a golden chance on a golden platter for top scorer Dave Morrison to convert but the hitman unusually wasted the chance by screwing wide from 3 yards out. Sidwell also slotted Maslen in but the away stopper was enjoying an outstanding game and denied the YM man from 10 yards by smothering his shot. Dan Sutton, Woodrow and Morrison all had chance to grab the goal but the breakthrough finally came on 80 minutes when Sutton jinked in between 3 defenders and spotted Sidwell at the back post who made no mistake with a diving header. YM held on strong and grabbed the 3 points that ensured promotion to division 2 for the 09/10 season.

YM RAPIDS: HARVEY, R TIPPER, TOWNER, ROLFE, WOOD, BULLETT, SIDWELL, CAYZER, WOODROW, MASLEN, D MORRISON. SUBS EVANS (Replaced Woodrow 60), SUTTON (Replaced Maslen 65), WILLIAMS (Replaced Morrison 65)

BOILERS MOM: ADAM CAYZER