"TIPPER STRIKE SEES OFF MAILMEN"

Reading YMCA got off to a winning start but it took a late strike from Drew Tipper to make the game safe against a battling Royal Mail side.

YM went in at half-time with a comfortable 2-0 lead but a strong 2nd half showing from the Mailmen saw them pull a goal back and miss several good chances before Tipper's late strike.

YM manager Mark Lemm had mixed emotions after the game "Obviously the priority for the 1st game of the season is to pick up the 3 points but I was disappointed that we lost our way in the 2nd half after being relatively comfortable.  To be fair to Mail, they did step up their game after the break but we continually put ourselves under pressure by giving the ball away.

I felt over the 90mins we just about deserved the points but I could have had no complaints if Mail had got something out of it."

YM started the game brightly and were knocking the ball around with confidence with new signing Aidey Kearsey at the heart of the action.  And YM's efforts were rewarded when skipper Tim Sidwell whipped in a vicious corner that was met by last season's top scorer Danny Fitzpatrick who scored with a powerful header.

Mail responded well to the setback and a series of set pieces saw YM under pressure.  YM goalkeeper, Scott Mortimer had to be alert to stop a close range Paul Vickers header whilst the Mailmen also hit the top of the crossbar with another effort.

YM regained their composure and came back strongly but despite creating a host of promising opportunties the final ball or finish was inavariably lacking.  The best chance of the half fell to Sidwell who beat the offside trap to race on to a through ball - with only keeper, Kieron Lamb to beat and Tipper on hand for a pass, Sidwell could only blast the ball straight at Lamb.

But Sidwell made amends soon after when another superb corner found centre back Tim Zielinski who almost burst the net with a thumping header.

YM then felt they were denied a clear penalty when a Mail defender swatted the ball away with his arm but the otherwise excellent Brain Russell waved away the fervant YM appeals.

At half-time it seemed that if YM could show more composure in the final third they could go on to add a couple more goals but instead YM struggled to muster any fluidity as Mail took the game to their West Reading rivals.

Mail front man Morai Dumbaya was always a handful and he was dragging the YM defence out of position as they tried to get a grip of the pacy striker.
Midfielder Justice Muze was also enjoying a good game and he almost pulled a goal back for his side when his long range shot travelled narrowly over the bar.

YM were still creating the odd chance but as the half wore on YM were getting increasingly ragged and Mail had a couple of gilt-edged chances to score before they finally broke their duck when the ball fell to Muze in the box where he calmy slotted past YM's Mortimer.

The goal sparked a frantic final 10 minutes with Mail piling on the pressure but it was YM who killed off the game when great vision from Zielinski saw him play the ball into the path of Tipper who cut inside Vickers before wrong-footing Lamb to make it 3-1.

YM have now lost just once in their last 14 games stretching back into last season but Lemm recognised that his side will have to improve if that run is to continue "We had a good 45 mins but that is not good enough anymore.
Our success last season has raised expectations at the club and we have to meet those expectations by delivering 90 minute performances and finishing sides off when we have the chance.

Outside the top 2 of Cookham and Highmoor there is not much between the rest of the sides and the competition will be really tough so we have learn from this and improve.

It si the first game of the season though and one thing I can't criticise is the work-rate and that bodes wll for the season".

READING YMCA: MORTIMER, FITZPATRICK, ROLFE, ZIELINSKI, HARRISON (replaced M LEMM 80min), CORNELL (replaced BUCKLEY 65min), KEARSEY, SIDWELL, EDMUNDS, WOODROW, A TIPPER SUBS BUCKLEY, M LEMM, MEAKIN (NOT USED).

LEMMY'S MOM - DAVID ROLFE