Report TBC

YM RAPIDS: Hodgetts, Froud, Allen, Fitzpatrick, Green, Huntley, Wagner, Edmunds, Adey, Jennings, Kasonde. Subs: M LEMM (Replaced Jennings 83), WEAFER (Replaced Huntleyl 60)

LEMMYS MOM: JAMIE FROUD

YM's second string got off to a poor start in division 1 with a 1-0 loss to AFC Corinthians. Having moved up 3 consecutive divisions the Rapids now find themselves ina division that will prove a must tougher test. Manager Tim Sidwell has stuck with the core of the squad that won division 2 at a canter last season, but with players wanting to challenge for first team places, there was always going to be a change in personel for the opening game.

The Rapids got off to a poor start and were under the cosh from minute one. Corinthians worked very hard off the ball and gave YM no chance to get their passing game going, with Dave Rolfe and Mark Ilsley the busier of the centre halves in the opening exchanges. Clearcut chances were few and far between with the home strikers going close on 2 occasions but failing to trouble Newman. It came as no surprise on 20 minutes when the home side took the lead. A long ball was hoisted over the YM back line with the Corinthians pacy front men on to it like a flash. YM managed to clear the original danger but with the ball pinging around, it fell to a home midfielder who poked the ball over the line to make it 1-0. This appeared to galvanise the rapids in to a performance, with Darren Cornell his usual busy self, feeding widemen Steve Daly and Mandeep Nagla who were able to supply some excellent crosses, two of which Sidwell failed to find the target with as YM went in 1-0 down.

The second period was all YM, with the occasional counter attack from the home side. Cornell lashed a couple high and wide from range with Sidwell and Rolfe rpoving the ariel threat from set pieces. YM's key chance came on 70 minutes when Daly whipped in a vicious low corner that eluded everyone and was cleared off the line, only to fall to Rolfe 10 yards out. The resulting shot sailed over and almost summed up YM's day in front of goal. The closing stages were littered with mistakes from both sides and YM were luck not to go two or three down, having their woodwork clattered twice. YM resorted to long balls and in the end were found wanting by a very hard working Corinthians side.

Sidwell said 'it was really dissapointing to get off to such a poor start after a decent pre season and the boys need to learn fast we are no longer in the lower reaches of the Reading Football League. We have another tough test next week against SRCC, but will have a much bigger stronger squad with some new signings and are ready to compete at this level'

YM RAPIDS: NEWMAN, LEACH, M ILSLEY, ROLFE, WOODROW, DALY, CORNELL, SIDWELL, NAGLA, SUTTON, A ILSLEY. Subs: EVANS (Replaced Sutton 60), JOHNSON (Replaced Cornell 70)

SIDDERS MOM: MARK ILSLEY