Reading YMCA bowed out of the Maidenhead Norfolkian Cup at the semi-final stage after a 2-1 defeat at East Berks side Slough Heating.

The game kicked off with some scrappy passages of play but it was arguably YM who started the brighter. However YM’s tenuous early advantage was chopped down at the knees when Slough sprung YM’s offside trap leaving a Slough Heating player to slot past YM keeper, Jamie Froude.

YM were lacking in inspiration and looked befeft of confidence as frequent furores forward by Slough's midfield consistently overwhelmed YM’s rear guard with only some last ditch tackles from Mark Lemm preventing Slough from doubling their lead.  It wasn’t all bad for YM though as whenever the ball found its way out wide, particularly on the left, YM looked  like breaking through but a decent end product proved to be elusive. This was certainly the case when striker, Sam Jennings, had YM’s best chance of the half when receiving the ball in tight quarters he brilliantly beat 2 Slough defenders only to place the ball wide of the post.

That agony was intensified a short while later when again a Slough striker found himself in behind the YM defence and although his initial shot was well saved by Froude his teamate made no mistake with the rebound.

YM certainly appeared to have a better shape about them in the 2nd half and it was Slough this time who caught YM’s disease of smacking the ball aimlessly up field or off the pitch. YM were getting closer to Slough and applying with a series of crosses and corners being scrambled clear. Leon Mannion then had YM’s next chance when he brought a wonderfully weighted through ball from Jason Wagner under control well inside Slough’s 18 yard box but, under pressure from Slough defenders, his mis-hit shot sailed harmlessly wide.

YM continued to persevere and found a break through when a drilled free-kick from Drew Tipper rebounded off the keeper the feet of Jamie Clough who dispatched the ball easily into the Slough net to make it 2 – 1 with 20 minutes left. This greatly lifted YM spirits and it appeared that it wouldn’t be long before YM found an equaliser. But although the Young Men were dominating possession and territory they were a little one dimensional in their build play and Slough were able to keep things tight. In fact Slough should have extended their lead when a misplaced pass from Rob Lee left Slough marauding forward with 3 players to YM’s two however they weren’t able to make the advantage tell and YM got the ball clear.

During the final 15 minutes there was some shameful time wasting with Slough frequently kicking the ball away and refusing to catch or control the ball when it was given to them by YM for set pieces. YM frustrations boiled over and a nasty two footed lunge by Tipper went largely unpunished but it was a challenge that could have been avoided if the ref had got a grip of Slough’s time wasting earlier.

However when the final whistle went YM were left to reflect on another sub standard performance and need to pick themselves up before this Saturdays tough encounter against Didcot Casuals in the Berks & Bucks Q-Final

LEMMY'S MOM: CHRIS LEMM

YM's second string returned to action with a fine display against a weak Berks CS Res side. Having not played for 6 weeks there was a danger the young men would be rusty and fall in to bad habits but a convincing display began with Sidwell's side starting with 10 men after James Phillips was delayed. Dan Sutton was running the front line well on his own and it was no coincidence that the Rapids kicked in to life with the full compliment of 11 men on 15 minutes. Daly produced a trademark corner that was flicked on at the near post for Mark Ilsley to slam home with his head. Sidwell made it 2 after the Sports keeper had lashed a clearance to the YM man who controlled and slotted home. Next up it was Daly who slotted home after great work from Sutton, but the goal of the game was scored by Sutton just before half time. Chris Leach set Daly off down the right who played a one two with Scott Gibson, then rolling the ball in to Sutton who played a one two with Sidwell and fired in after out pacing the back 4. It was a great end to the half with the Rapids playing some cracking football. Woodrow and Kenny also went very close with a drive and lob respectively.

The second period started in much the same vein as the first with Gibson pulling the midfield strings and Darren Cornell providing the usual solid defence in front of the back 4. The 5th came on 50 minutes when Leach broke down the right and centred for Sidwell to loop a headed effort towards the far post which dropped in after a keeper error. YM were afforded the luxury of making 3 subs for the first time this season with the introduction of Mike Holloway, Alan Ilsley and Mandeep Nangla. As with any team disruption it took the Rapids 10 minutes to get back in to the swing of things with Holloway and Sutton shining during the second period. It was left to the MOM to grab the final goal when he outpaced the sports back 4 and tapped past the on rushing keeper to make it 6.

Sidwell said 'It was very pleasing the way the boys played after such a long period without a game. I think there are tougher games to come but we will hopefully kick on from here and make a strong title challenge'

YM RAPIDS: PHILLIPS, LEACH, M ILSLEY, BROWN, KENNY, DALY, GIBSON, CORNELL, WOODROW, SIDWELL, SUTTON. SUBS: M HOLLOWAY (Replaced Sidwell 55), A ILSLEY (Replaced Cornell 55), M NANGLA (Replaced Daly 60)

SIDDERS MOM: DAN SUTTON