Reading YMCA survived a late scare to progress to the Quarter Finals of the Maidenhead Norfolkians Cup with a 3-2 victory over Downley Albion.

Downley, who play in the Aylesbury & District League, were ripped apart by the Young Men in the opening period with virtually the entire 45 minutes played in the Downley half.  YM's Steve Daly was on fire on the right and opened scoring after being played in by Martin Abery.

A superbly drilled Jason Wagner corner found the head of centre-back Ben Green for the 2nd goal but despite the pressure YM could not add to their tally and were grateful for a last ditch Adam Cayzer tackle near the end of the half that preserved the scoreline.

YM had the wind against them in the 2nd half and it was likely to be a much tougher battle and so it proved with Downley concentrating their offensive ambitions on set pieces and long throws.  YM were still on top though and a incisive run from Cayzer on the right saw him fizz a cross across goal which Abery tapped in.

Keeper Scott Hodgetts then had to make a couple of fine saves before Downley grabbed 2 late goals to put a flattering slant on the scoreline.

YM boss Mark Lemm said "It was a difficult day to play football but we were excellent in the 1st half particularly and should have been 3 or 4 up.  The 2nd half was more of a struggle and it was disappointing to concede those 2 late goals but we did the job."


READING YMCA:HODGETTS, CAYZER, GREEN, FITZPATRICK, LEE, DALY (replaced by C LEMM 70mins), EDMUNDS, WAGNER (replaced by BULLETT 65mins), D TIPPER, ABERY, JENNINGS (replaced by ATKINSON 65mins) SUBSBULLETT, ATKINSON, C LEMM.

LEMMY'S MOM - ADAM CAYZER