Reading Senior League side Reading YMCA met Hellenic outfit Holyport at Summerleaze Village and the home side will feel relieved at going through to the next round after an epic struggle.

YM welcolmed Drew Tipper and Nader Edmunds back to the squad after missing last week's victory over Ashridge Park but manager Mark Lemm stuck with the team that finished that match so convincingly.

Holyport had the conditions in their favour during the 1st period but were finding it difficult to impose their game on the Young Men with the midfield trio of Danny Fitzpatrick, Andy Bullett and Darren Cornell working tirelessly off the ball to deny Port any time on the ball.  Port were edging the game in terms of territory without ever looking particularly threatening and, with YM's backline in commanding form, much of the game was fought in midfield.

Sam Jennings was holding the ball up well for YM whilst the pace and of Martin Abery kept the Port defence on their toes.  YM were finding their best success through set pieces and Ben Green and Danny Fitzpatrick both went close with headers whilst YM's best chance of the half came when a poorly cleared corner was met by Adam Cassidy who blazed over the bar. Holyport's best opportunities came when YM gave the ball in dangerous areas and twice YM were relieved that Port did not take advantage of careless passes.

Both sides were looking reasonably comfortable until a moment of magic from Port's Aaron Lennon broke the deadlock when he used his strength to hold off the YM defence before drilling an inch-perfect shot across keeper Scott Mortimer into the far corner. It was harsh on YM but they had Mortimer to thank shortly afterwards when he made a miraculous save to divert a low, skidding free-kick up and over the bar.

At 1-0 down and with conditions in their favour YM had every chance going into the 2nd half and they restarted like a train as the belief that they could win the game surged through the team.  Abery and wide man Nick Seymour were becoming more involved and Port were finding themselves stretched as YM pressed.

Striker Jennings hit a post with a low shot and saw another cross elude him by inches with the goal at his mercy whilst Abery was infiltrating the Port rearguard time after time.  But at all too often the final ball was misplaced or a Port defender would make a last gasp tackle and as time moved on it was looking like Port would hold on until 5 mins from time when a Tipper free kick sailed over everyone apart from onrushing skipper Fitzpatrick who headed firmly into the net.

YM then laid seige to the Port goal in search of the winner and claimed a goal only for the referee to judge the ball had not gone over the line. Port held on though but there looked to be only winner going into extra time with Port looking dispirited.
But despite YM enjoying the advantage of the conditions in the 1st period of extra time Port showed they had a bit of steel by digging in and coming back into the match.  Although YM were still having the better of things their threat was largely coming from set pieces and Port were keeping possession well and not allowing YM to build a head of steam.

As the 2nd period progressed Port were getting stronger and, with the wind against them, YM were now the side on the backfoot. But YM continued to hold firm with defender Adam Cassidy the outstanding player on the pitch in his 50th appearance in a YM shirt.

But with the game looking to be heading towards penalties it took a moment of magic to settle the game when a Port midfielder beat a couple of men before executing a sublime lob over Mortimer and into the net.  YM then had no choice but to commit men forwards which left the inevitable gaps and Port had 2 or 3 great chances to extend the lead but the score remained the same and Port will now go on to meet another Reading League side in reigning champions Westwood Utd.

YM boss Lemm said "7 games into the season we've finally delivered the 90 minute performance I knew we had in us.  Rock solid at the back, creative and industrious in midfield and threatening up front.  We're all disappointed not to have won the game but the player's now know what we are capable of and hopefully our season can really start now.
Good luck to Port as they looked a beaten side going into extra time but they found some reserves and showed great spirit to pull out a win."

Reading YMCA Rapids remain one of only Reading League sides to have a 100% record after a hard fought 1-0 win over Wrightchoice. YM's second string went in to the game with another strong line up but came up against a well orgainsed Wrightchoice side marshalled by Thatcham Town old boy Moran Dodds. The young men created a host of chances with Morrison, Kisluk and Lemm all wasting glorious opportunities. An early goal may have seen this match go in a different direction but the visitors stood firm and caused a few issues going forward on the break.

The Rapids had scored 21 goals in their previous 3 wins but Wrightchoice were an all together different proposition and it took until the 75th minute for the Rapids to beak the deadlock when Dave Morrison scored his 7th goal in 4 games. The in form striker slid the ball under the keeper after a great through ball from Steve Woodrow.

The Rapids should have added at least one more to the scoreline when Sidwell and Woodrow both raced though on goal with the away defence awol, but Morrison could only chip the ball in to the keepers arms when it seemed easier to square for YM's second in the final minute.

YM boss Paul O'Boyle had praise for his defence after the win "We didn't pass the ball as well as we have done in previous games but our defence was the stand out area of the team and in David Rolfe and Mark Ilsley we have 2 Senior Divison standard defenders whilst Dave Morrison can't stop scoring at the moment. After some relatively straightforward wins the lads needed this one to remind us that we won't breeze through every game and will have to show other qualities to come through."

READING YMCA RAPIDS: TAYLOR, SANIGAR, ILSLEY, ROLFE, WOOD, KISLUK, SIDWELL, KEARSEY, C LEMM, MORRISON, WOODROW SUBS LEACH, T MORRISON, MASLEN (not used).

BOILER'S MOM - MARK ILSLEY