Reading YMCA 3 Woodley Town 2

Reading YMCA twice came from behind to earn a 3-2 win over Woodley Town and secure a league double over their rivals in the process.

YM manager Mark Lemm had the luxury of naming an unchanged line up for the first time this season although Aidey Kearsey, Sam Jennings, Andy Bullett and Lemm were still missing through injury.

Woodley were determined to exact revenge on YM for a narrow 1-0 defeat in February and fielded a front two of James Pearson and Brody Kenyon in a bid to provide a more physical threat to YM's imposing defence.

In contrast to recent weeks, YM looked flat from the opening whistle with Woodley looking the sharper of the sides but it was YM who were finding the penetration and they carved out 3 gilt edged chances in the opening 10 minutes.  First, a slick YM move ended with striker Dan Newman squaring the ball for striker partner Drew Tipper but with the goal at his mercy Tipper could only sidefoot the ball straight at Woodley keeper Craig Beales.

Tipper then turned provider when he played in Newman who beat the offside trap to race clean through on goal but again Beales was on hand to turn the shot round the post.  YM's Andrew Heath then played in Newman once again with only Beales to beat but before the striker could pull the trigger a Woodley defender launched into a tackle which brought Newman crashing to the floor.  It looked a strong claim for a penalty but the referee dismissed the appeals.

Woodley could have easily been 3-0 down but instead they broke the deadlock.  Midfielder Nick Edwards had just gone close with a volley that YM David Rolfe had to deflect away before a deep cross saw Pearson head the ball back across goal where skipper Jim Nighingale was on hand to scoop the ball into the net.

This prefixed a scrappy period in which neither side were particularly fluent although Woodley were looking the more composed on the ball.  YM continued to look dangerous on the counter attack but frequently wasted good attacking opportunities although the outstanding Beales made another superb fingertip save to deny YM's Nader Edmunds.

The turning point in the game may well have come just before half-time when Woodley's influential midfielder Nick Edwards was forced off with a twisted knee.

After a half-time tongue lashing from coach Paul Meakin, YM started the 2nd half brightly and were rewarded with an early goal from the outstanding Newman.  A neat move saw Heath blast the ball towards goal from the edge of the box and, although Beales made another good save, the ball fell to Edmunds who knocked the ball across goal for Newman to smash home.

But the equaliser proved to be a false dawn as YM once again sunk back into lethargy as Woodley steadied the ship.  Kenyon and Pearson were proving a real handful and when Woodley manager Andy Abrahams brought on speedster Chris Waring the attacking intent was clear.  Former YM striker Waring made an immediate impact when his jinking run in the box and although his shot was blocked the ball fell to Pearson who showed quick feet to get a shot on goal but somehow it was deflected over the bar.

But Woodley were not to be denied and they regained the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances when a speculative shot rebounded off a YM defender straight into the path of Woodley's Rob Morley who made no mistake with only the keeper to beat.

It was looking like a Woodley victory but YM skipper Tim Sidwell refused to give up and his constant probing and relentless running finally found dividends when he raced on to an excellent ball out of defence from Danny Fitzpatrick before showing great composure to square for Tim Zielinski who sidefooted past Beales.

Finally, YM found some momentum and they almost got the winner when Tipper shot from the edge of the box but it drifted wide.  But the winner did come when Heath and Newman played a one-two allowing Heath to fire in a shot and although Beales saved the ball popped up to Newman who bravely headed home for his 2nd of the match and 4th in 5 games since signing for the club.

The final minutes saw sub Jamie Fairchild dismissed for two bookings and the game finished at 3-2.

YM manager Lemm reflected "It is always a tight affair between us and Woodley as we are two evenly matched sides.  At 2-1 down I couldn't see us getting back into it but the difference in the last few games is that we are posing much more of an attacking threat and are creating chances.  We should have been 3-0 up within 10 minutes but over the course of the game I thought Woodley deserved at least a point."

READING YMCA: MORTIMER, FITZPATRICK, ROLFE, CASSIDY, CORNELL (replaced by KISLUK 65mins), ZIELINSKI, SIDWELL, HEATH, EDMUNDS, TIPPER, NEWMAN SUBS KISLUK, BULLETT (not used), M LEMM (not used).

LEMMY'S MOM - TIM SIDWELL

Reading YMCA Rapids saw their chances of a top 3 spot all but disappear after a frustrating 1-0 defeat to promotion rivals Newbury FC Res.

The Rapids defence were in control for much of the match but a rare slip allowed Newbury to take the lead.

The Rapids created numerous chances most notably to Lee Worth, Rob Maslen and Dean Williams but despite their efforts they just could not make the breakthrough.

Rapids boss Paul O'Boyle said "We're all disappointed to have lost this game but I'm so proud of my players.  They gave everything in this match to win but it just wasn't our day and we could probably have played for another 90 minutes and not scored.

After an indifferent start to the season all the lads have really knuckled down and we've had a great of 9 unbeaten games which has given us a chance but we gave ourselves too much too do and I can't see the top sides slipping up now.  We've come on leaps and bounds during the season and we'll be looking to sign off with 2 wins and then have a real go next season."

READING YMCA RAPIDS: HARVEY, SANIGAR, B GREEN, ILSLEY, WOOD, WILLIAMS (replaced by SUTTON 75mins), R TIPPER, KENNY, C LEMM, WORTH (replaced by MASLEN 65mins), WOODROW SUBS MASLEN, SUTTON, O'BOYLE (not used).

BOILER'S MAN OF THE MATCH - MARK ILSLEY

YM Stalwart Dave Rolfe took last weeks MOM with a solid display in the 0-0 draw with Newbury FC. Rolfe has been YM's 'Mr Consistant' for the past 3 seasons and rarely puts a foot wrong whilst marshalling the YM defence.