Reading YMCA took a much deserved point from their 2nd away game of the season with a 1-1 draw against a rejuvenated Woodley Town side. The fixture list hasn’t been particularly kind to YM with trips to Westwood and Woodley in the opening week – two sides who look destined to challenge for honours this season. But despite not being at their best in either fixture YM can take encouragement from hard fought draws in both games.
With YM supremo Mark Lemm absent, senior players Tim Sidwell and David Rolfe took over the reigns and immediately discovered how tough management can be when key player Drew Tipper pulled out at the last minute. A sluggish start by the away team allowed Woodley to come out firing with Woodley’s wide men and front pairing of James Pearson and Tom Williams all going close in the opening exchanges.
The tackles were flying in and Woodley old boy Adie Kearsey was first to see yellow after a clash with Nick Edwards. YM could not get their passing game going early on and they had their back 3 of Danny Fitzpatrick, Dave Rolfe and the impressive Scott Allen to thank for managing to repel everything that was thrown at them.
The 1st half turning point came on 25 mins when YM’s Johnny Adey was scythed down from behind in the box and the ref had no choice but to point to the spot. YM penalty king Fitzpatrick stepped up but his weak effort was easily saved by Craig Beales. Whilst YM’s players stood in disbelief, Beales’ quick throw out set Woodley away and 6 passes later the ball was in the YM net with a classic counter attack and neat finish.
In truth it was no more than YM deserved and their goal continued to come under threat only to be spared by the woodwork and 2 goal line clearances from Nader Edmunds. YM’s Nick Seymour was working tirelessly down the left with no joy but then sparked YM into life with a marauding run down the left, outstripping 3 Woodley players before pulling the ball back for Sidwell who squared for Bullett to blaze over the bar.
Some stern words at half time saw YM reinvigorated in the second period and they threw everything they had at Woodley from set pieces and open play, with Martin Abery and Adey both going close. The breakthrough came on 55 mins when Sidwell found some space in the compact midfield and threaded a sublime pass through the Woodley rearguard to spring the offside trap and send wide man Edmunds in on goal where the he made no mistake with a cool finish passed Beales.
YM continued to force the pace and there seemed to only be one winner, with the wind in their favour and the work rate upped, YM carved out 3 more opportunities. The best chance came when Sidwell whipped in a vicious free kick from 40 yards out that eluded everyone and fell to the feet of Adey who could only steer the ball over the bar from close range. This looked to be the match defining moment and despite both sides having chances in the closing stages the game ended level.
Stand-in gaffers Sidwell and Rolfe summarised “It was always going to be tough coming here and we are happy with a point but could have easily won it in the 2nd half. A lot of teams will come here and struggle as they are a physical side and will definitely be involved in the title shake up. The long grass and wind didn’t help either side but we dug deep after a shocking first half and could have nicked all 3 points in the end.”
READING YMCA: MORTIMER, FITZPATRICK, ALLEN, ROLFE, EDMUNDS, BULLETT, SIDWELL, KEARSEY, SEYMOUR (replaced by CORNELL 65mins), ADEY, ABERY SUBS CORNELL, TAYLOR (not used).
SIDDERS’S MOM – SCOTT ALLEN
Reading YMCA Rapids kicked off their season with a emphatic 8-1 victory over Compton.
With the club as a whole strengthening considerably over the summer, the Rapids were able to field no less than 6 players with recent Senior Division experience and they were just too strong for the villagers.
The opener came from an unlikely source when Mark Ilsley slammed home after a Dave Morrison header was saved by the keeper.
Morrison then grabbed his 1st when he played a one-two with Steve Wood, glided passed the centre back before slotting through the keeper’s legs. The Compton centre back then scored an own goal before Steve Woodrow set up Dean Williams for YM’s fourth. Wood made it 5-0 just before the break.
The Rapids grew ragged in the 2nd half as the team lost their shape and Comtpon duly pulled 1 back. But Morrison restored order when notched his 2nd after good work from Steve Daly. Another own goal made it 7-1 before Morrison claimed a hat-trick with an assist from Rob Maslen.
Rapids manager Paul O’Boyle commented “We played some really nice stuff in the 1st half but a few players got greedy for goals and we lost our shape which is a shame as if we’d have continued playing as we were we could have bagged even more.
With the 1st team strengthening this year we could be fielding some really strong sides this year and I’m confident we can do well as long as we can keep the players happy.”
READING YMCA RAPIDS: HARVEY, DALY, CASSIDY, ZIELINSKI, ILSLEY, WILLIAMS (replaced by MASLEN 60mins), TOWNER, WOODROW, WOOD (replaced by EVANS 60mins), D MORRISON, SUTTON SUBS EVANS, MASLEN.
BOILER’S MOM – DAVE MORRISON
