Reading YMCA secured a quarter-final tie with Marlow Utd after a tense 2-1 victory over a good Woodley Saints side. 

YM started well and the omens were that it was going to be a comfortable afternoon for the Young Men.  But YM were unable to convert pressure into a goal and Saints began to grow in confidence and were the better team for a good part of the opening period. 

Saints should have taken the lead when the ball fell to a Saints striker inside the 6-yard box but he could not connect cleanly and YM keeper Chris Rackley made a straightforward save.  Saints continued to press and took the lead just before half-time when the Saints full-back picked up the ball and curled an excellent shot into the corner from 20 yards. 

YM came out after the break with renewed determination but soon lost the services of Martin Abery after the recurrence of a knee injury which allowed Rob Lee to make his first appearance since August after a lengthy spell out with ankle trouble.  Despite being a long way from their best, YM were now edging the lead and earned a fortunate equalizer when a lobbed pass found Johnny Adey clear on goal but he mis-controlled the ball which fooled the Saints keeper who watched the ball trickle into the corner of the net. 

Adey doubled his tally in more convincing fashion when he powered home a header from a Jason Wagner free-kick. 

Saints continued to push but had lost some of their zip from the 1st half and YM saw the game out in relative comfort. 

LEMMY'S MOM - JOHNNY ADEY

The Rapids welcomed back a few regular faces but were still missing a few key players through injury and suspension for what was expected to be a very tough game. Woodley started the better and put a lot of early pressure on the back 4 of Leach, Rolfe, Clough and Ilsley. YM settled into the game and were always looking dangerous down the flanks. It was from there that they took a surprising lead. Good work down the left from Mark Ilsley allowed a pass into his brother Alan who teed up Mortimer to fire home from 20 yards. 2 minutes later it was 2 when good pressure from Simmonds meant the ball fell kindly for Alan Ilsley who unselfishly supplied Simmonds for his first goal in 4 matches. Woodley then straight from kick off, pushed forward and a deflected shot looped kindly for the Woodley striker who finished well. Half time 2-1.

The next goal would always be crucial and the start of the second half was very tense although it was the Rapids who looked the most dangerous with Daly and Simmonds linking up well down the right and the centre mid pairing of Holloway and Mortimer constantly looking to get involved where possible.

It was Holloway who calmed everyone down with 10 minutes to go as good work from Daly on the right allowed Holloway to fire into the bottom corner. At 3-1 you could sense the relief. The Rapids weren’t done there though and it was Holloway again shortly after who made it 4-1 before some excellent trickery from Daly resulted in him being upended in the box for a penalty. Daly scored the penalty and the game finished 5-1.

MARK/STEVE MOM - MIKE HOLLOWAY