Reading YMCA will be kicking themselves after throwing away a great opportunity to take 3 points from title favourites Highmoor/IBIS in an engrossing encounter.
YM had laboured to a opening day win over Mortimer in midweek and went ino the game without a keeper with Scott Hodgetts picking up an injury and all other registered keepers injured or unavailable. Manager Mark Lemm filled in between the sticks with Sean Kenny coming in for the absent Chris Lemm and Rob Lee for the injured Jules Baker the only other changes to the squad. Highmoor were still missing suspended Shaun Dyke whilst Stuart White was out with a hamstring pull and Jermaine Hamilton trying his luck with Henley Town.
Highmoor were fast out of the traps and Mark Lemm was called into action in the opening 5 minutes when a corner fell to the feet of Ashley Issacs 6 yards out but Lemm did well to smother the effort. YM soon found the feet though and were enjoying good spells of possession with Jason Wagner, Naz Edmunds and Drew Tipper pulling the strings in midfield.  Highmoor were getting little change out of an excellent YM backline and YM were now controlling the game as they threatened the Highmoor goal with almost every attack.  Highmoor keeper Lee Johnson made a superb stop to deny Johnny Adey's blistering volley and Tipper also went close with a shot but all too often great approach play was wasted at the final moment. YM eventually took a deserved lead when great work from Edmunds saw him play the ball across goal towards striker Martin Abery who drilled an unstoppable shot into the top corner. YM continued to press and really should have extended the lead but it was Highmoor who nearly got the next goal when Aaron Baker raced on to a through ball before volleying against the bar.

The second half was much more even and was largely fought in the midfield areas with nearly side creating much in the initial 20 minutes.  Highmoor were beginning to look a little more threatening and a couple of shots from distance from Baker were not far away. The home side then enjoyed their best spell of the match as they kept possession well and bagen to get Shayne Small-King and Barry Elmore into the game. Small-King in particular was causing problems when receiving the ball with his back to goal and he delivered some dangerous crosses which really should have been capitalised on. YM continued to defend well though with Adam Cayzer in particular putting in a big performance. With 75 minutes gone, Highmoor won a free-kick out on the right and as YM switched off, a short ball was played into the box to Small-King who finished expertly into the bottom corner to level the scores. This was actually he cue for YM to get back on top and wide man Nick Seymour made a great bursting run only to underhit his shot.  Then in the final minute YM had the chance of the game when Abery broke free of the Highmoor defence to leave himself one-on-one with Johnson but the pacy striker miscued his shot.
YM manager Lemm reflected "We played really well today particularly in the 1st half when we really should have been 2 or 3 goals up.  But Highmoor have got some great individuals and they are always liable to come up with something. It was a great game of football though but we feel this was 2 points lost today and we have to be more clinical when we are in top in games."

Reading YMCA Rapids made an up and down start to life in division 2 with a 6-4 win over Hurst Res at Cantley Manor on Saturday. With YM’s second string moving up through the divisions the games will become more of a test, but with the entire YM squad looking strong this season the young men should make an impact in division 2.

Luke Kasonde led the way with a hat trick and could have bagged even more but for some poor finishing. The first 10 minutes saw the Rapids look a touch rusty and it was the home side that came out the blokes with a couple of half chances that stand in keeper Steve Wood did well to smother. Some lackluster passing on a windy day saw most of the game played in the middle third, but YM finally got going on 22 minutes when a slick move between Dave Morrison, Steve Daly and Kasonde saw the latter burst in the to the box and fire home from close range to open the new season with a bang. It was then Morrisons turn to make his own goal 3 minutes later when bursting forward, last seasons top scorer was brought crashing down in the penalty box for a cast iron 12 yard spot kick, ad duly dispatched the effort to make it 2-0. YM were rampant and wasted 3 more glorious chances to make it 3 before Kasonde grabbed his second 10 minutes before the break after being put through by Andy Bullett.

The second period should have seen YM shut up shop and run out comfortable winners but within 5 minutes of the restart a wind assisted clearance fell to the Hurst forward who grabbed the first of his 3 with a neat finish. 1 more goal and the home side were right back in it but it was Kasonde who completed his hat trick barely a minute later when the pacy frontman tricked his way in the box and finished with Aplomb. The goal of the game came next when Sidwell jinked past a Hurst midfielder and played in Chris Leach wide right. The full back released Daly who fizzed the ball across the box at pace where Andy Bullett tucked home with a crisp finish. At 5-1, the Rapids looked in total control but with 15 minutes left and several changes enforced, YM got lazy and conceded 2 quick goals to make it 5-3 and the potential banana skin reared its ugly head. But with just 5 minutes left and the storm weathered it was down to the trickery of Daly to finish the game off with some fancy footwork and a perfectly placed finish to make the points safe. Hurst were not done though and bagged a 4th with the last kick of the game.

Stand in Boss Lindsey Edwards said ’the first 10 minutes and last 15 minutes were slight causes for concern as we looked to take out foot off the gas, but the rest of the game summed up what we are about – good quality attacking football and in fairness the game should have been dead at half time. I thought Luke Kasonde was outstanding today and really gave their back 4 a torrid time’

YM RAPIDS – Wood, Leach, Rolfe, M Ilsley, Cornell, Woodrow, Bullett, Sidwell, Daly, D Morrison, Kasonde. Subs: Towner (Replaced Leach 65), Tipper (Replaced Sidwell 65), Evans (Replaced Woodrow 55)