Reading YMCA produced an assured display to earn a deserved 3-1 win over a Taplow side on a high after the previous week's win over Highmoor/IBIS.

Taplow employed the 4-5-1 system that served them well in that game and came with the intention of frustrating YM and hitting them on the break.  But YM were dominant in the opening stages and soon took the lead when Drew Tipper turned a Jamie Froude corner in at the near post.

18 year-old debutant Christos Hughes was enjoying an excellent game in the centre of midfield whilst Chris Lemm also stood out in his first start of the season.

Taplow barely threatened in the 1st half with their threat mainly limited to set pieces.

The pattern continued in the 2nd half although YM were creating less and the game was more of an even contest.  Martin Abery calmed nerves on the hour when he headed in Froude's corner.

Taplow pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go but then threw men forwards which allowed YM to carve out several chances as the game drew to a close.  Johnny Adey hit the bar and Sam Jennings' follow up was superby saved by Josh Boggi but Jennings got his reward when Boggi was tackled by Abery on the touchline and Jennings was left to scoop the ball into the unguarded net for a 3-1 victory.

READING YMCA: M LEMM, C LEMM, FITZPATRICK, ALLEN, FROUDE, HUGHES, TIPPER, GIBSON, EDMUNDS, ADEY, ABERY. SUBS: JENNINGS (Replaced Tipper 65), KASONDE (Replaced Hughes 75)

LEMMY'S MOM: CHRIS LEMM

YM second string ground out a hard fought 2-2 with Barton Rovers on Saturday. With Pangbourne unavailable due to water issues, the Rapids had to switch to the bobbly dustbowl known as pitch 2.

YM came out the traps and got straight at Barton with Steve Daly using his trickery down the right to combine with Dave Simmonds for a half chance. Ryan Tipper looked in commanding form at the back with his usual tough tackling with James Phillips, the Rapids new number 1, making a fine start to life in a YM shirt with assured kicking and handling. The breakthrough came on 10 minutes when a deep Steve Woodrow corner was met at the far post by Tim Sidwell who headed back across the goal for Tipper to lash home a volley through a crowd. Unlike recent weeks this failed to spur YM on and the away side were allowed back in to it on 25 minutes when a dubious free kick was crashed home by the pacy Barton winger. Things got worse for YM 2 minutes later as Barton broke down the right and the same player slotted home from an acute angle after springing the offside trap.

A dressing down from Sidwell at half time led to YM coming out the traps in the second half and putting in a much better performance. Phillips kicking allowed Sidwell to win most of the flick ons and set YM away with Woodrow, Evans and Daly all going close. Half way through the second half YM sensed blood as Daly got them back in the game with a fine curling effort past the hapless Chris Jarvis. With Barton reshuffling their pack there was only one team in it. Darren Cornell was his usual rock in the heart of midfield allowing Sidwell, Woodrow, Simmonds, Daly and Evans to get at the away defence on several occasions. YM had one scrambled off the line and Evans needed to grow 2 inches to head home a Daly cross but YM could not find a way through. Phillips was in commanding form pushing a rasping drive round the post, but the definitive moment came in the last second of the game. A Barton forward was through on goal when Tipper clipped him from behind and confusion reigned as the referee consulted a linesman and made up his mind. Straight red and a free kick right on the edge of the box. However with a 7 man YM wall the ball bounced away to safety to end with a share of the spoils.

Sidwell said ‘we are such a frustrating side at the moment with quality players not firing on all cylinders and making silly mistakes, but we can take heart from the way we have played 3 top sides and picked up 2 points whilst not playing at all well. There is plenty more to come from this side so watch this space!’

YM RAPIDS: PHILLIPS, LEACH, ILSLEY, R TIPPER, KENNY, DALY, CORNELL, SIDWELL, EVANS, WOODROW, SIMMONDS. SUBS: O BOYLE (Not Used)

SIDDERS MOM: JAMES PHILLIPS