| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| FA Youth Cup 1st round | Thursday, 18th October (7.30pm) | Woking | Home | Won 6-0 |
Match facts:
Reading goals: Louie Soares (2
minutes), Nathan Bailey (27 minutes), Alex Stanley (38 minutes),
Chris Davies (43 minutes), Jason Awbery (penalty, 44 minutes),
Louie Soares (60 minutes)
Assists:
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Reading 5 Woking 0
Gamebreaker:
Attendance: Approximately 300-400
Referee: G Skinner
Reading line-up: Simon Cox
(senior), Nathan Stamp (Peter Castle, 75 minutes), Callum Earl,
Adam Theo, Alex Stanley, Simieon Howell, Nathan Bailey (Leon
Bird, 67 minutes), Steven Laidler, Chris Davies (Darren Campbell,
52 minutes), Louie Soares, Jason Awbery
Subs not used: Jamie Young, Gary Middleton
Reading yellow cards: Adam Theo (foul)
Reading red cards: None
Match report:
By The Scribe:
Looking at the result, it will come as no big shock if I tell you that Woking were totally outclassed in this game. They did have some chances, and they knuckled down once the score had reached 6-0 (perhaps as Reading eased off a little), but there was only ever one team in it.
The truth of this was evident from as early as the second minute when an inswinging Reading free-kick curled across the face of the goal and Louie Soares was able to glance a header into the far corner to give us the lead. The next period of the game was the most even, with both sides having some good chances, but Reading went 2-0 up when Nathan Bailey ran onto a bad backpass and slipped it past the goalkeeper.
About ten minutes after that, it was 3-0 from another set-piece. Reading had a free-kick on the outside left of the penalty area but instead of crossing directly, we slipped the ball sideways allowing a run and cross from the byline. Alex Stanley was able to head the ball home from about six yards out. Jason Awbery was then only foiled by an excellent save from the Woking keeper in a one-on-one situation.
Just before half-time a good run by Awbery to the byline allowed him to cross the ball. The keeper was able to half-palm the ball away but it went only as far as Chris Davies who was running in from the right. Davies chested the ball down and flicked it into the back of the net. Almost immediately after that goal, Davies was brought down when running into the area with the ball. Awbery put the resultant penalty into the bottom left-hand corner.
The final goal came 15 minutes into the second half when a bad defensive clearance went straight to Soares who was only 15 yards out from goal and in a central position. He shot the ball into the corner of the net.
Although that was the last of the goals, there were still chances to score. Simieon Howell, who did not shine in this game as I had expected, hit a shot over from 25 yards, whilst Woking also had a good chance. Two very good runs from Callum Earl led to crosses - from one of these Leon Bird put the ball wide when he really should have scored. Then Soares shot wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Adam Theo picked up a yellow card for a bad tackle, and that was the only caution of the night. In fact, I have to say that the referee had an excellent match, allowing the game to flow and playing advantage whenever possible. The final chances were a Woking header that we cleared off the line, and at the other end an Awbery header that went just wide after a good run down the right from Soares.
Every Reading player had a good game, with my man of the match being Callum Earl. Other noteworthy performances came from Louie Soares and Jason Awbery.
Finally, only the West Stand was open for this game meaning that Alan Pardew and John Madejski were sitting just in front of me. They were constantly chatting, but I'm afraid I couldn't hear anything of what was said!
Match notes:
None.
Match preview:
According to the Evening Post, the Reading team for the match is: Simon Cox (senior), Nathan Stamp, Adam Theo, Callum Earl, Alex Stanley, Simieon Howell, Nathan Bailey, Steven Laidler, Jason Awbery, Chris Davies, Louie Soares. Substitutes are Gary Middleton, Ian Oliver, Peter Castle, Jamie Young, Leon Bird and Darren Campbell.
The winners are away to Southend United or Walton & Hersham, who play their Round 1 tie on Monday, 22nd October.
Ticket information:
The game is to be played at Madejski Stadium.
Seats are only available on the day, and prices are:
Adults - £3
Seniors - £2
Juniors - £1
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