YM produced a horror show to deservedly suffer a 2-0 defeat to Cookham Dean.

YM boss Mark Lemm handed debuts to 5 players in a bid to address the malaise that had inflicted his side since the start of the season but the pattern remained the same with YM second best all over the pitch.  Cookham took the lead in fortunate circumstances when a Pav Bhangoo cross sailed over debutant Jonny Phillips into the far corner and extended it soon after when a long ball exposed the YM defence and allowed Nathan Lishman to slot past the onrushing Phillips.

Cookham had several other excellent chances to extend their lead whilst YM barely created anything of note.

YM improved in the 2nd half with Jamie Piercey twice spurning 1-on-1 opportunities but Cookham remained the better side and gave YM a lesson in workrate, committment and organisation.

READING YMCA: PHILLIPS, BICKNELL, ALLEN, RUSSELL, PIERCY, EDMUNDS, C LEMM, HUGHES, A TIPPER, WAGNER, ADEY. SUBS: D FITZPATRICK (Replaced Russell 55), KASONDE (Replaced Tipper 46), GIVENS (Replaced Hughes 63)

LEMMY'S MOM: LUKE KASONDE

YM Rapids produced a fantastic display to show what they are really capable of, disposing of the league leaders with a devastating 10 minute goal fest in the first half. Boss Tim Sidwell had a strong squad to choose from and the starting 11 didn't dissapoint though it was the home side that came out the traps. Wokingham and Emmbrook, clearly on a high from winning all 4 opening games, came at YM from the off with keeper James Phillips having to make a couple of smart saves and centre half Ben Green turning in an outstanding performance with last ditch tackles. The Rapids were most definately at the races though and started to impose their game on the home. Mark Ilsley and Steve Woodrow were combining well down the YM left and it was no surprise when the latter made it 1-0 with a cool finish on 20 minutes. The following 10 minutes showed why YM are tipped to challenge this year with a devastating spell of attacking football. Green fed Sidwell who raked a trademark pass 40 yards to Woodrow, where his centre was met by Mandeep Nangla to make it 2-0 and 2 in 2 games. Alan Ilsley did the same 5 minutes later when he latched on to a poor clearance by Wokingham and fired home to make it 3. It could have got worse for the home side after Nangla was fouled inside the box but Woodrow's penalty was well saved by the Wokingham number 1. Scott Gibson was driving the Rapids forward at every stage and his tough tackling and physical presence gave the YM midfield a 'robust' look with him and Sidwell not allowing the tangerines a sniff. Gibson went close to making it 4 with 2 curling efforts before the interval but niether could find the target.

The second period started as expected with the home side going for some sort of lifeline and it appeared as though YM would hold out but the Wokingham sub smashed the ball home after YM failed to deal with a corner. This galvanised the home side and they came at YM, but the key moment came on 55 minutes when Daly and LEach combined down the YM right and fed Gibson who slotted home with a cool finish on the volly to restore YM's 3 goal cushion. This visably deflated Wokingham and it was YM who could have gone further ahead when Woodrow lashed wildly over from 20 yards. YM had the luxury of bringing on James Atkinson for half an hour and the pacy frontman made an instant impact, beating the keeper to the ball and pulling back for Gibson who could only blaze over. The final 25 minutes became the battle both sides expected but YM's tackling and hassling gave the home side no chance to get back in to the game the Rapids ran out comfortable winners.

Boss Sidwell gleamed: 'The lads were fantastic today - everyone put a shift in and it paid dividends in that 10 minute spell during the first half. I wanted to give everyone MOM but special mentions go to Ben Green who was a rock at the back and Scott Gibson who drove the side on and made some crucial tackles. This is more like it and hopefully we can kick on in the league having played all 4 teams above us'

YM RAPIDS: PHILLIPS, LEACH, M ILSLEY, GREEN, ROLFE, DALY, SIDWELL, GIBSON, NANGLA, WOODROW, A ILSLEY. SUBS: ATKINSON (Replaced Nangla 55), R TIPPER (Replaced Daly 70)

SIDDERS MOM: SCOTT GIBSON