Reading YMCA stretched their unbeaten run to 4 games by holding Cookham Dean to a goaless draw but the Young Men may feel it was an opportunity missed against a below-par Cookham side.

The two sides had already met earlier in the season in the Berks & Bucks Cup when Cookham outclassed YM to run out 5-0 winners in what Cookham described as their "best performance for a year" but they were unable to hit those heights this time round in a much tighter match.

YM manager Mark Lemm handed full debuts to former Fleet Town striker Jimmy Wise as well as fellow striker Sam Jennings who has switched from Highmoor/IBIS.  And both men impressed in an opening half which saw YM have the better of territory and possession.

On a heavy pitch Cookham's passing was uncharacteristically wayward which was aided by an energetic YM side that were hounding them at every opportunity.  As Cookham grew frustrated YM began to enjoy the better of the game with wide men Darren Cornell and Nader Edmunds both influential.
But Cookham do not have the defensive record in the league for nothing and the back three of Carl Reeves, Scott Allen and Dave Shaw ensured that YM were never able to convert their pressure into clear cut chances.

In fact it was Cookham who were creating the chances when on, 2 occasions, striker James Gisbourne capitalised on some hesitant defending to race in on goal but on both occasions he was thwarted by YM keeper Scott Mortimer who has been in commanding form this season.

The second half saw both defences on top with the games descending into a midfield battle with YM's Danny Fitzpatrick the outstanding player on the pitch as he worked tirelessly to blunt the attacking threat of the Cookham midfield.  The one golden chance fell to Cookham when substitute Ollie Webb evaded 2 challenges inside the box only to be denied a certain goal by a superb last ditch challenge from stand-in skipper David Rolfe.

The game grew scrappy towards the end as both sides tired and the game petered out to its goalless conclusion which was probably a fair reflection on the game.

YM boss Lemm said "Cookham totally outplayed us earlier in the season but this game was much more like the real YM.  We played some nice stuff at times but the Cookham defence is a tough nut to crack and we never really created a clear cut chance.

Cookham did create a couple of good chances but were well below par today and there is a sense that we missed out on a good opportunity to take the points although a draw was probably a fair result.

We have to play all of the top 4 sides in the league in the next few weeks so this period will determine our league prospects and this performance will give us confidence going into those games."

READING YMCA: MORTIMER, M LEMM, ROLFE, CASSIDY, CORNELL (replaced BULLETT 70mins), FITZPATRICK, ZIELINSKI (replaced KEARSEY 65mins), EDMUNDS, WISE, HEATH, JENNINGS (replaced WOODROW 60mins) SUBS WOODROW, KEARSEY, BULLETT.

LEMMY'S MOM - DANNY FITZPATRICK

YM skipper Tim Sidwell lead the way against Hop Leaf with a 2 goal showing that lifted the Rapids up to 3rd place - and in to one of the automatic promotions spots for the first time this season. Its no surprise that manager Paul O Boyle, assisted by Lindsey Edwards, is desperate for promotion and that means earning the results against all types of opposition. This game was a potential banana skin for the rapids as Hop Leaf are there to be beaten but it was the first game after christmas and YM could have been forgiven for not getting out the blocks early having played 1 game in 4 weeks.

However such events did not unfold and YM took control of this game from minute one. The Rapids went in to the game with a strong side including new signings Ben Green and Mark Ilsley who can consider themselves unlucky not to be fighting for a first team place after recent excellent performances. Midfield hard man Ryan Tipper was back in the fray along with Ben 'George' Callow and Chris Kisluk who have both played at the top level. Add to that YM captain Sidwell who was returning from a 6 week injury lay off and it was no surprised that the rapids took the game to their oponents from the off. YM consistently looked dangerous down the flanks with fulbacks Sanigar and Callow providing regular outlets to start attacks. Centre halves Ilsley, and especially Ben Green looked dominant and snuffed out anything that came their way. Dean Williams was whipping in some excellent crosses from set pieces and it looked a certainty than the Rapids would take the lead from such a move. However the first goal came from good interplay between Sidwell and Kisluk that led to the YM skipper unleashing a swerving drive from 25 yards that was too hot to handle for the Hop Leaf keeper and flew in to the back of the net to give YM a deserved lead. From then on it was like the alamo with YM laying siege to the Hop Leaf goal. Green, Tipper, Wood and Maslen all went close but YM went in at the break with only the 1 goal to show for their efforts.

The second half started in much the same vein as the first with YM looking for the killer second goal. It came on 55 mins when some great work down the left by Wood left young YM protege Maslen with the simplest of finishes and the young man made no mistake. The Rapids were then able to take their foot off the gas and stroke the ball around confidently with the front 2, and midfield 4 all causing problems. The 3rd goal came with 20 mins to go when a sublime piece of skill from Wood left him to pick out Sidwell who crashed the ball home for his 2nd of the game. YM then left a couple of gaps at the back that were expertly dealt with by Sanigar and Green but had one scare when a Hop Leaf forward exposed some over exuberant YM attacking and grazed Ian 'Harv' Harvey's right hand post. It was left to Ben Green to wrap up the scoreline with an excellent looping heading from another YM set piece that soared in to the top corner.

YM stand-in boss Lindsey Edwards said: 'we were excellent today - the was always the chance to suffer a christmas hangover but the boys were at it from the start. Tim Sidwell and Ben Green were outstanding and provided the spine of the team from which to build'

READING YMCA RAPIDS: HARVEY, SANIGAR, B GREEN, ILSLEY, CALLOW, WILLIAMS, SIDWELL, R TIPPER (replaced TOWNER 70mins), WOOD (replaced WILSON 70mins), MASLEN, KISLUK SUBS WILSON, TOWNER.

LINDSEY'S MAN OF THE MATCH - TIM SIDWELL

YM wide man, Darren Cornell took last weeks MOM award with a solid display in the 1-1 draw with Berks CS. Cornell has stuck to his task this season and is proving a handful for defenders whilst working tirelessly up and down the flanks.