| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| U-19 League | Saturday, 19th January (10.45am) | Arsenal | Away | Lost 0-1 |
Match facts:
Reading goals: None
Assists: None
Opposition goal:
Half-time: Arsenal 1 Reading 0
Gamebreaker:
Attendance:
Weather: Gale force wind, freezing temperatures
Reading line-up: Simon Cox senior,
Ricky Allaway, Declan O'Hara, Alex Stanley, Adam Theo, Adam
Campion, Andre Boucaud, Matt Birnie (Ryan Maxwell), Jason Awbery,
Steven Laidler (Scott Williams), Louie Soares
Subs not used:
Reading yellow cards:
Reading red cards:
Match report:
By a guest reporter:
Reading battled bravely but Arsenal's quality was a big bridge to cross. Reading were on the back foot for long periods and it was only determined defending that kept Arsenal at bay. Arsenal should have gone ahead after 25 minutes when young professional David Bentley engineered a chance playing a one-two with another forward and firing a low shot through a crowd of players that everyone thought was the first goal but despite not seeing it till late Simon Cox pulled off a tremendouns save, hurtling across his goal to fingertip the ball wide of the post.
Vital blocks from young Adam Theo, Declan O'Hara and Alex Stanley preserved the goalless scoreline until five minutes from half-time when Arsenal's quality undid Reading. Receiving a ball on Reading's right Owosa controlled and fired in a shoulder-high cross twelve yards out and the impressive Bentley outfoxed the defenders to power home a header.
Half-time: 1-0
Reading tried valiantly to break Arsenal down but to no avail and then to rub it in Arsenal introduced another professional Jermaine Brown and for the last 30 minutes he tormented Reading's defence as Arsenal turned up the heat. Reading were constantly on the back foot and only the the heroics of what at times seemed an eleven man Reading defence prevented Arsenal from increasing their lead, the keeper in particular making two excellent saves one-on-one from the outsanding Brown.
Full-time: 1-0
Defeat yes but bowed no, Reading battled throughout the side with the front men grafting and probing, the midfield working their socks off and the defence resolute. Adam Theo, Alex Stanley, Ricky Allaway and Declan O'Hara gave determined performences, with Simon Cox returning to his best with some excellent saves.
Arsenal fielded five players who have played in this year's Worthington Cup - that underlines the value of the 1-0 defeat.
Match notes:
None.
Match preview:
None.
Ticket information:
None.
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