The Reading League rep side and combined counties side met at scours lane last night in a friendly match and it was the home side that emerged with the honours after a well fought contest.
The game started at a lively pace as per usual and it was Reading that were dictating most of the play. Highmoors Chris Jewel and Ben Dunk of Mortimer both delivered excellent crosses that just failed to reach their intented targets. The midfield trio of Scott Warick (Rabsons), Tim Sidwell (YM) and Paul Hamilton (Highmoor) we trying to dictate the pace of the game and get Reading moving forward, while the back 3 of Lee Ovens, Scott Allen (Both Cookham) and MOM Dave Green (Westwood) were snuffing out all that the Combined Counties could throw at them. On a cold and blustery night, various half chances went begging as the lively forward pairing of Drew Tipper (YM) and Ashley Baynham (Westwood) tried to create the elusive goal. The away side came back in to the half in the latter stage and created a few openings but never really troubled Reading keeper Dave Lyons (Mortimer) and the teams went in all square.
The 2nd half got off to a lively start when the hard working Baynham chased down a Counties defender and robbed him of the ball to square to Sidwell who calmly slotted to ball home. The lead lasted only a few minutes when a dubious free kick was lashed in to the top corner by a Counties player. This spurred them on to have the better of the following exchanges and went close with a couple of efforts after sloppy Reading passing. Reading were always looking dangerous on the break and Tipper went close with a turn and shot that shaved the far post. Penalties were looming until a fine Dave Green ball was handled in the area by a Counties centre half and the referee awarded the penalty. Rabsons Scott Warick stepped up, took control and gave the keeper no chance to earn the Reading League the win.
All parties agreed that a draw was probably the fair result but games are won and lost on key moments and this was no exception.
MOM - Dave Green
