Reading YMCA saw their title hopes receive a damaging blow after being held to a 2-2 draw at struggling Wodocote/Stoke Row. YM needed 3 points to ensure that their title bid remained in their own hands but they will now have to beat Woodley Town on Saturday and rely on other results to go their way. The Young Men were without long term injury victims Chris Lemm, Sam Cripps and Nader Edmunds whilst Johnny Adey was unavailable due to work commitments.  Woodcote were even worse hit with the Dillon brothers, James Worsfold, Mark Edwards-Smith and their regular keeper all absent.
Both sides started nervously although YM had the first chance when Darren Cornell's accurate through ball played in Martin Abery but the striker chipped over the ball.  Cornell himself then went close after a turn and shot in the box before Drew Tipper fired a volley wide of the post.  Woodcote's threat was limited with Michael Butcher and Ross Weatherstone playing as a makeshift strike duo and their best chance of success seemed to be from set pieces and long throws. And, against the run of play, the home side took the lead when YM failed to deal with a deep corner and Chris Clark stole in to scramble the ball into the net.

YM made the perfect response after the break when defender Scott Allen headed home a deep Tipper corner to level the scores with his 1st goal for the club.The game was evenly poised but YM continued to look vulnerable from set pieces and Woodcote again took the lead when keeper Scott Mortimer spilled the bar under pressure leaving Michale Higley to stab home. There were suggestions of a foul on the keeper but referee Simon Lee dismissed the appeals. A rush of blood from Mortimer almost gifted Woodcote the game when he kicked the ball straight at Butcher but his lob sailed over the bar. YM were not down for long though before Allen headed a cross back across goal where Tipper found space to volley the ball into the net. The goal was the cue for a frantic finale in which both sides had chances and tackles were flying in.  Higley was shown the red card on 85mins after a professional foulon Abery whilst the excellent Woodcote stand in keeper Scott Allaway made an exceleltn save to deny Sam Jennings from the resulting free-kick. At the other end Mortimer redeemed himself with a superb save from a Weatherstone volley but the game ended in a stalemate which helps neither side in their respective battles.
YM boss Mark Lemm said "We didn't play enough quality football or create enough chances to earn the 3 points here and the draw was fair.  It's been difficult playing catch up over the past few weeks and for the first time the title is out of hands but there is still hope for us although we now must beat Woodley on Saturday to have any chance. We should have a couple of players back for that so we will come out all guns blazing and see if we can take it to the final week of the season."

TBC