| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| U-17 League | Saturday, 17th November (11am) | Charlton Athletic | Home | Lost 2-3 |
Match facts:
Reading goals: Chris Davies (43
minutes), Adam Theo (69 minutes)
Assists: ?, Ian Oliver
Opposition goals: After 63, 67 and 84 minutes
Half-time: Reading 1 Charlton Athletic 0
Gamebreaker:
Attendance:
Weather: Overcast but dry, cold
Reading line-up: 1 Jamie Young, 2
Matthew Jones (14 Daniel Walsh, 78 minutes), 3 Ian Oliver, 4
Russell Lucas (15 Curtis Osano, 64 minutes), 5 Gary Middleton (12
Peter Castle, 78 minutes), 6 Adam Theo, 7 Andre Boucaud, 8 Chris
Davies, 9 Leon Bird, 10 Nathan Bailey, 11 Darren Campbell
Sub not used: None
Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None
Match report:
As has happened in previous Under-17 games this season, Reading started off well but faded as the game went on and ended up with a defeat. There were still really good moments including some superb skill from Andre Boucaud in midfield and good runs from Darren Campbell.
In the first half, Reading had several half-chances to score, with the Charlton keeper making a save at the feet of Leon Bird early on and also tipping an Adam Theo shot onto the post after a period of pinball in the penalty area. Jamie Young in the Reading goal also had to make one good save after a quick Charlton break left a forward with a one-on-one with Young. However, just before half-time Reading took the lead with a good run and shot from Chris Davies. His shot squirmed through the goalkeeper's grasp and into the net.
At the start of the second half, Nathan Bailey tried a spectacular Raul-style backheel from a Leon Bird cross in an attempt to extend the lead, but the ball was blocked. Gradually, however, Charlton came back into the game with Jamie Young having to tip a shot over the bar, and then thankful to see a shot go wide after he made a poor clearance. It was perhaps inevitable that Charlton would get an equaliser and it came after Young could only palm away a cross from the right. The ball fell to a Charlton player whose shot went in.
Several minutes later, Charlton took the lead following a good run forward, with a shot powered over the Reading goalkeeper. However, almost immediately Reading came back and scored from a simple set play with a towering header from Theo following a free-kick by Ian Oliver.
A Leon Bird header went wide before Charlton scored what proved to be the winner five minutes from the end. A forward took the ball round Young, but his shot was blocked by a defender who was back covering. The ball fell to another Charlton attacker who thumped it home. The away side even had a chance to win by a larger margin as a shot from the edge of the area needed a good tipover by Young.
Although there were some good passages of play from Reading, the team will be disappointed to have got nothing from this winnable game.
Match notes:
None.
Match preview:
None.
Ticket information:
None.
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