Leaders Reading YMCA ran out 4-1 winners at mid-table Rabson Rovers but, despite the convincing nature of the scoreline, YM were made to battle all the way against a spirited Rabson's side.
YM went into the game without midfielders Andy Bullett and Darren Cornell although they did welcome back Sam Cripps after several weeks out due to illness.  Rabson's were missing midfield dynamo Pedro De Barros whilst Elliot Dean remains a long term injury victim.

On a difficult playing surface, YM enjoyed the perfect start when striker Sam Jennings found himself in space in the middle of the park before finding partner Martin Abery in space.  Abery outstripped the Rabson's defence before finishing expertly passed keeper Kelvin Folly.  Jennings had a superb chance to extend the lead soon after when he was sent clean through on goal but Folly did well to save at his feet as he attempted to round the keeper. But Jennings made amends with a hand in YM's second goal.  A Jennings shot was blocked inside the area and fell to a Rabson's defender but, as the defender dwelled on the ball, Jennings stole the ball off him and fed Abery who in turn squared for the onrushing Drew Tipper to sidefoot into the net.

Despite finding themselves 2-0 up within the first 20 minutes, YM were far from dominating the game and Rabson's went close when a delicate Scott Warwick free-kick was scrambled over the ball by YM keeper Scott Mortimer.  Rabson continued to enjoy a fair share of possession and frequently caused the YM defence problems with Craig Christian influential and Scott Lucking provided a big target up front.  Lucking was offering a big aerial threat and he went close with a couple of headers as Rabsons delivered a succession of quality set pieces. YM wide man Johnny Adey was the one bright spark for the home side as he worked tirelessly up and down the flank and he was almost rewarded when he arrived late in the box to fire towards goal after a corner but his shot was blocked and eventually cleared.

Rabson's were right back in the game at the start of the 2nd half when a deflected through ball wrong footed the YM rearguard and after the intial shot was blocked Ben Bonner raced in to tuck home the rebound.  The goal was the cue for 20 minutes of sustained Rabson's pressure with YM forced back into their own half and finding it difficult to keep hold of the ball.
Half chances came and went for Rabson's and they almost equalized from a corner only to see YM's Nader Edmunds clear off the line. Adey had a good opportunity on 60 minutes but chose to shoot rather than square the ball across goal where teamates were queuing up but it was Adey who made the game safe when after a goalmouth scramble the ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he calmly slotted home. Rabson's continued to battle in the closing stages but gaps were appearing at the back and YM rounded off the scoring on 85 minutes when Edmunds played in sub Mark Lemm who drew a defender before playing the ball back to Edmunds who blasted into the top corner with Folly helpless.

Player manager Lemm said "It wasn't a great game in terms of quality but there was alot of effort from both sides and the scoreline was harsh on Rabsons.  I was very impressed by their workrate and attitude - at 2-0 down some of the Rabsons side's of old would have lost their discipline but they were all working for each other and at 2-1 could easily have nicked something.
We were well below par today but still managed to win 4-1 so that's a good sign from our point of view.  We've had 2 really good battles since Xmas and to come out with 6 points is a massive bonus."

Top Scorer Dave Morrison grabbed his 20th and 21st goals of the season to make sure YM's second string carried on their winning run and progressed in to the QF on the Jubilee Cup. The Rapids have still not lost all season and are on course for another 25 games this season if they manage to reach all 3 cup finals.

The game started brightly on an excellent, but small playing surface and it was the home side that quickly got in their stride with YM new boy Luke Kasonde bombing forward at every opportunity. Wide man Steve Daly was showing the usual array of skills on the right flank and it was his deft cross that Morrison bagged his first on 20 minutes.

For some inexplicable footballing reason, Ym then took their feet of the gas and allowed Highmoor back in to the game as they created a host of chances. Veteran midfielders Steve and Max Jennings were rolling back the years and causing the YM backline problems but luckily YM found the Ibis strikers having an off day.

The second half started as the first had finished and it took the introduction of YM hard man Ryan Tipper to shore up the midfield and put a few tackles in. Highmoor went in search of the equaliser and were unlucky not to grab it as the referee had given handball just as the ball hit the back of the net.

This galvanised YM and they went in search of the 2nd to kill the game off. Morrison and Woodrow twice went close but the away side stood firm. A succesion of corners lead to Sidwell flashing a rasping volley across a pack penalty area that somehow stayed out, and then veteran keeper Chris Jarvis made a point blank save from a Sidwell header to keep the score at 1. YM finally grabbed the 2nd when Daly took a short corner to Sidwell who floated an invited outside of the boot cross to Morrison who finished with aplomb to seal safe passage to the next round.

Rapids supremo Paul O Boyle quipped 'This was a largely forgettable performance from our boys today, but we got the job done against another side higher up the pyramid and look forward to being in the hat for the QF'

READING YMCA RAPIDS: HARVEY, LEACH, TOWNER, CASSIDY, EVANS (replaced by MASLEN 85mins), DALY, SIDWELL, KASONDE (replaced by WOOD 65mins), WOODROW, SUTTON (replaced by R TIPPER 55mins), D MORRISON SUBS R TIPPER, WOOD, MASLEN.

BOILER'S MOM - DAVE MORRISON