A Martin Abery double was enough to see Reading YMCA through to the 2nd Round of the Reading Evening Post Senior Cup at the expense of a spirited Park Utd side.

YM were anticipating a tough scrap against a Park side who boast an unbeaten league record and who look a good bet to join YM in the Senior Division next year. It looked like being a easy afternoon's work for YM when they opened the scoring after just 40 seconds. Good work from wide man Nick Seymour saw him square the ball across goal where striker Sam Jennings was on hand to smash the ball into the back of the net with the outside of his right boot.

It was Jennings's first goal of the season and it proved to be the unfortunate player's last action of the game as he was forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury shortly afterwards.

Johnny Adey came on as replacement and YM continued to force the game and almost too the lead when an Adam Cassidy header hit the bar after a corner. Adey himself had a great chance to increase the lead when he raced on to a through ball before rounding the keeper but he was forced wide and could only hit the side netting with his shot.

Shellshocked Park gradually pulled themselves together and began to enjoy more possession with Ricky Sidu and Darren Ritchie becoming more involved. YM's Darren Cornell forced a good save from the keeper with a powerful shot but the game was now an even contest with both sides causing problems.

Park's Leon Gittens was whipping in a succession of dangerous corners and free-kicks and this looked to be Park's best route into the game although YM keeper Rob Taylor was in commanding form. But Park did equalize when a Park corner was cleared to the edge of the box where a Park player thundered in a shot which hit Seymour in the stomach before rebounding into the path of a Park player who slotted home.

YM were still looking dangerous in attack though and regained the lead when Adey twisted and turned inside the box before hitting a shot that was stabbed into the net for Abery's 1st of the game.

YM then suffered another injury blow when skipper Danny Fitzpatrick was forced to come off with a groin injury to be replaced by Tim Zielinski who himself was nursing a back complaint.

The half-time break allowed YM to regroup and focus on what was destined to be a tough 2nd half.

Park took the game straight to YM and remained on top for most of the half with only the occasional burst from Abery and Seymour offering any relief. Both Ritchie and Gittens were finding space out wide whilst Park's midfield duo were starting to dictate proceedings. That Park did not score during this period was largely down to the form of Taylor plus the back 3 of Ben Green, Cassidy and Man of the Match Scott Allen.

Gittens' delivery continued to be a major problem for YM and there were numerous goalmouth scrambles as YM battled to clear the ball. Then, totally against the run of play, YM extended their lead when Abery raced on to an aimless long ball over the top where he outsprinted the home defence before beating the Park keeper in the air and racing on to slide into the empty net.

But Park were not done and with 10 minutes left Ritchie broke free on the right and drilled the ball past keeper Taylor. They then threw everything at YM but good not find the crucial touch to send the game into extra time. With Park committing men forward, YM almost made it 4 when Abery sprinted clear on the right before squaring across the area where sub Mark Lemm lashed wildly over at full stretch.

Player Manager Lemm said "We knew it would be tough today as Park are flying at the moment. I couldn't have any complaints if they Park had this one but fortunately we defended excellently in the 2nd half and Martin Abery has taken his goals superbly.

This was a game we would have lost earlier in the season but we have rediscovered the knack of grinding out results when we are no playing well and that's a great quality to have.

November is now a massive month for us in the context of season and with a lengthy injury list I may have to see if I can bring in a couple of players. But we have a big squad and hopefully we've got enough to get through this period."

READING YMCA: TAYLOR, GREEN, ALLEN, CASSIDY, SEYMOUR, FITZPATRICK (replaced by ZIELINSKI 40mins; M LEMM 80mins), D TIPPER, BULLETT, CORNELL, JENNINGS (replaced by ADEY 15mins), ABERY SUBS ZIELINSKI, ADEY, M LEMM.

LEMMY'S MOM - SCOTT ALLEN

Reading YMCA Rapids had a scare at mid-table Wargrave but managed to hold on to a 2-1 victory to maintain their 100% league record.

Prolific Dave Morrison opened the scoring when he converted a Steve Woodrow cross on 75 minutes but Wargrave hit back straight away through a superb volley on the turn from 25 yards.

But the Rapids showed their resolve and took the points when defender Mark Ilsley stabbed home a Woodrow corner.

Manager Paul O'Boyle said "I anticipated a bit of a comedown after last week's win over Turnpike but we did enough to earn a win against a good Wargrave side. We are a scalp for other sides now so we have to be ready for that."

READING YMCA RAPIDS: HARVEY, T MORRISON (replaced by TOWNER 65mins), ILSLEY, ROLFE, EVANS, WILLIAMS (replaced by LEACH 85mins), EDMUNDS, WOODROW, C LEMM, C LEMM, D MORRISON, MASLEN SUBS TOWNER, LEACH.

LINDSEY'S MOM - MARK ILSLEY