Reading YMCA continued their recent upturn in form by recording their first ever league victory over Highmoor/IBIS. After a poor start to the season YM have now won 3 of their last 4 games and could even afford to miss a penalty before eventually winning 2-1.

YM manager Mark Lemm made 1 change from the side that went so close to beating Holyport in their previous game with Drew Tipper coming in for the unlucky Daz Cornell.  In contrast Highmoor were missing a host of players but handed a debut to former South Reading star Diak John.

The game was barely 5 minutes old before the first major incident of the match occured when Highmoor's Danny Seward controlled a cross inside the box and did well to turn YM's Scott Allen in the box only for Allen to pull the striker back conceeding a penalty in the process.  Seward made no mistake with the penalty.

Despite this setback YM had started well and were pressing Highmoor all over the pitch forcing them to repeatedly concede possession.  And the Young Men earned a lifeline when a powerful shot from outside the box was handled by a Highmoor player.  Centre-back Adam Cassidy stepped up to take the kick but his effort hit the cross bar and Highmoor escaped.

To their credit, the miss only served to galvanise the YM players and they took the game to Highmoor with Tipper going close with a long range free-kick.  YM's midfield trio of Danny Fitzpatrick, Andy Bullett and Tipper were outstanding during the first period as they chased and harried the Highmoor players and when they got possession they were keeping the ball well and dictating play.
A well worked YM move saw Bullett volley wide but it was Martin Abery who was proving to be the real thorn in Highmoor's side with his pace and non-stop running.  And it was a typical Abery run that earned the best chance of the half when he raced on to a through ball and outplaced a defender but with keeper Courtney Issacs to beat his shot drifted agonisingly wide of the upright.
Abery then showed his poacher's instinct to level the match when, after a scramble in the Highmoor box, a clearance from a Highmoor player hit one of his own players in the face rebounding to Abery who calmly slotted home.

YM and Abery were now rampant and the young striker grabbed his second of the game and 7th of the season when he raced on to a Bullett pass and outstripped the Highmoor defence before finishing expertly passed Issacs. Highmoor had barely threatened but introduced Aston Robinson for the injured Leon Bird after 35mins and the home side immediately had a focus for their attacks.

Highmoor improved after the break and were having the better of things intially with YM allowing their ball players too much time on the ball.  But with Nick Seymour becoming incresingly influential YM soon recaptured the drive and energy of the 1st half as they looked to put the game beyond Highmoor's reach.

With both teams attacking looking for the crucial next goal the game became end-to-end but whereas YM's defence were in commanding form the Highmoor defence was being perforated at will.  YM had numerous chances to put the game to rest but all too often they were outnumbering the Highmoor defence only for a misplaced pass or poor decision robbing them of the opportunity to put a real gloss on proceedings.

Bullett, Johnny Adey and Highmoor old boy Sam Jennings all had chances to seal things but the goal did not come and this gave encouragement to Highmoor who started commit more men forward as they sensed a possibly comeback.  The home side could easily have snatched a draw if not more in the final 15mins as they rained crosses in on the YM defence but a combination of poor finishing and bad luck denied them and in truth it would have been tough on a YM side that had earned the 3 points.

Boss Lemm beamed "We've received some harsh lessons here in the past so it was nice to come here and win especially as it was fully deserved.  We've been playing alot better in recent games and we're starting to look like a proper team so we felt we were due a big result.

But we've got some important league and cup games coming up so it's important we have the determination to keep this run going because we've shown we are a decent team.

Lemm also gave a special mention to top scorer Abery "Martin has been fantastic for us since signing.  He is not the biggest lad in the world and comes in for a lot of rough treatment but he keeps bouncing back and answering with goals."

The big game in Division 3 was the battle between leaders Turnpike Sports and 2nd place Reading YMCA Rapids.  With both teams boasting 100% records something had to give and it proved to be the visitors Turnpike who went home disappointed.
Turnpike dominated the 1st half but against the run of play went a goal behind when YM's Nader Edmunds dribbled past a host of players before hitting a long range effort into the net.  Turnpike hit a deserved equalizer on the half hour in similar fashion when the Turnpike striker hit a superb effort past keeper Rob Taylor.

It was thanks to Taylor that YM stayed in the match as he made 3 outstanding saves to keep his side in the match.
The game turned after 60mins when Edmunds capped a fantastic individual display by smacking a 30-yard shot into the net with his weaker left foot to spark wild celebrations.

There was only 1 winner after that and Dean Williams wrapped things up with another spectacular effort when he met Dave Morrison's cross with a diving header. Taylor, Edmunds and David Rolfe were all outstanding for the Rapids.

Stand-in manager Lindsey Edwards said "We didn't turn up in the 1st half and have Rob Taylor to thank for going in on level terms.  We really showed our class in the 2nd half and with several of our players having Senior Division experience I would expect us to do that.  

It was a great advert for the division though with some great attacking play and 4 goals that would grace any division in the league."
READING YMCA RAPIDS: TAYLOR, SANIGAR, WOODROW, ROLFE, WOOD, WILLIAMS, SIDWELL, EDMUNDS, C LEMM (replaced EVANS 80mins), D MORRISON, MASLEN (replaced by SUTTON  70mins) SUBS EVANS, SUTTON.

LINDSEY'S MOM - NADER EDMUNDS