YM Rapids lost their second league game of the season to a well marshaled Wargrave side on Monday night. The defeat leaves YM’s second string needing to win all remaining league games and score a vast number of goals to catch up with runaway leaders Turnpike Sports, but with these 2 teams still to play there may be more twists and turns to come.
YM started dictating the game from minute one and lay siege to the Wargrave goal looking for the opener. Lewis Evans was first to try his luck as he crashed a stunning shot off the post from a tight angle. Drew Tipper then fed Rob Maslen who could only shoot tamely at the keeper. The YM youngster was looking sharp and then turned provider as first Tipper, then Andy Bullett both squandered decent chances. Meanwhile Rob Taylor had to be alert as the away side stated their intentions with a one on one that the YM number did well to smother. Tim Sidwell got in to the game after 20 minutes and his passing started to upset the away sides defence with the pick being a raking 50 yarder that fell to Drew Tipper who’s usually tight control let him down when through on goal. The sides went in 0-0 at half time with YM sensing a single goal would win the day.
The second half started brightly with YM going close through Maslen but it was Wargrave who took the lead on 50 minutes when a defensive lapse between Rolf, Ilsley and Leach let an away striker in on goal who’s shot appeared to be to weak for Taylor but it squirmed through the stoppers hands and in to the net for an unlikely advantage to the away side. This would usually spur the home side on but YM began to revert to longer balls and gifting possession away with the away side mopping up anything that came their way. Sidwell brushed aside a Wargrave midfielder on 70 minutes but could only drag his shit wide of the post, whilst the introduction of Steve Woodrow and Dan Sutton gave YM more impetuous. It was the former that possibly created YM’s best chance of getting back in to the game when a typical run down the left beating 2 men, left the veteran with a clean shot on goal and a great strike was equally matched by the away stopper. A succession of long throws and corners proved fruitless and it was Wargrave who grabbed the points to leave YM scratching their heads as how they had lost.
READING YMCA RAPIDS: TAYLOR, LEACH, ROLFE, ILSLEY, WOOD, CAYZER, BULLETT, SIDWELL, EVANS (replaced by SUTTON 85mins), D TIPPER, MASLEN (replaced by WOODROW 65mins) SUBS WOODROW, SUTTON, R TIPPER (not used), M LEMM (not used).
BOILER'S MOM – DAVE ROLFE
