Reading YMCA stretched their unbeaten run over Westwood Utd to 13 games but it took a last gasp goal from Chris Lemm to level the scores and secure a valuable point.

YM were missing a host of players with Martin Abery, Johnny Adey, Matt Bicknell, Jason Wagner, Craig McGivern and Dan Szutenberg all injured or absent. But Westwood were also depleted with Ashley Baynham, Chris Jewell and Gavin Bendall all missing.

YM started well enough but were hit by an injury to defender Marc Headland after just 10 minutes and we forced to reshuffle with Stuart White coming on as a replacement after a brief spell out with a hamstring injury.  Westwood capitalised on the disruption to up their tempo and enjoy the better of territory and possession.

Westwood were causing problems from set pieces and when YM failed to clear a corner, the ball fell to Chris Bark who excuted a sublime chip into the far corner of the net.

YM were creating the occasional opportuntity on the break but generally Westwood looked the sharpy outfit and went into half-time with a deserved 1-0 lead.

With the conditions in their favour during the 2nd half, YM were now in the ascendency and pressurising the Westwood goal.  YM's Chris Lemm was prominent on the left hand side of midfield whilst Naz Edmunds was also making inroads but despite their best efforts YM could not find the breakthrough.  Stuart White had the best chance to level but was denied by a wonder save from Westwood keeper Peter Barnes and YM then had 2 good penalty shouts turned down by ref Steve McMahon.

It was looking like Westwood would hang on until Chris Lemm finally broke the deadlock when he was released through on goal and although the covering defence got across , Lemm dummied to shoot, took the ball inside and calmly slotted past keeper Barnes.

YM boss Mark Lemm said "We were poor in the 1st half and I made sure the lads understood that at half-time.  But we came out fighting in the 2nd half and I think a draw was a fair result overall although we could have easily won it in the 2nd half.  With the players we had out this could be a crucial point for us.

We've now got a cup final on Friday night followed by our final 4 league games so we've got a big 3 weeks coming up and we're all ready for the final onslaught."

READING YMCA:HODGETTS, HEADLAND (replaced by WHITE 10mins), GREEN (replaced by M LEMM 80mins), FITZPATRICK, LEE, KASONDE, CAYZER, EDMUNDS, D TIPPER, C LEMM, JENNINGS SUBSWHITE, M LEMM.

LEMMY'S MOM - CHRIS LEMM

YM Rapids made immensly hard work of bottom of the table Linear Utd eventually running out 3-0 winners. Once again O Boyle was forced to shuffle his pack with Mark Ilsley coming in to centre half and Ryan Tipper anchoring the midfield. Linear turned up late for KO and are clearly a side in orgainsational disarray, but this didn't stop them working hard and closing down YM at every opportunity on a wet Pangbourne pitch. It was clear from the off that YM would have the quality, but needed the application in order to secure the points.

The first chance came on 10 minutes with Sidwell putting Atkinson through, one on one after good defensive work by Ryan Tipper. The diminuative striker unfortunately set the tone for a woeful afternoons finishing with a shanked shot well wide of the goal. 5 minutes later Sidwell set Atkinson free again, and this time the shot flashed across the goal and away to safety. The YM back 4 were rarely troubled by a buoyant but wayward Linear attack and when they did get a shot away they found Froud in no mood to conceed.

Atkinson wasn't enjoying the best afternoon and failed to finish once more when through on goal having made all the running and racing round the Linear back line. The breakthrough came on 25 minutes when Dave Morrison right footed cross was blocked and the YM hitman whipped in a much better effort with the trusty left that sailed straight in to the net. This should have been the cue for the flood gates to open but Darren Cornell, Morrison and Atkinson all failed to hit the target as YM went in 1-0 up.

An ear bashing from O Boyle led to the Rapids coming out the blocks and putting in a better performance at the start of the 2nd period. Tipper was enjoying a great game and mopping up anything that came his way, with Sean Kenny and Steve Daly combining well down the left to create half chances for Morrison and Atkinson. The latter managed to banish the 1st half ghosts on 60 minutes when slotting home to make the game safe. 20 minutes, a lot of sliding around, some pretty poor finishing and another Dave Morrison goal meant YM took all 3 points on a largely forgettable afternoon.

YM RAPIDS: FROUD, LEACH, ILSLEY, ROLFE, KENNY, CORNELL, SIDWELL, R TIPPER, DALY, D MORRISON, ATKINSON. SUBS: O BOYLE (Replaced Tipper 80)

BOILERS MOM: RYAN TIPPER