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2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Louie Soares, Andre Boucaud
Assists:
Opposition goals:
Half-time: Wimbledon 1 Reading 1
Gamebreaker:
Attendance:
Weather:

Reading line-up: Simon Cox, Ricky Allaway, Adam Theo, Alex Stanley, Gary Middleton (Callum Earl), Adam Campion (Nathan Stamp), Steven Laidler, Andre Boucaud, Simieon Howell, Louie Soares, Jason Awbery
Subs not used:
Reading yellow cards: Andre Boucaud, Simieon Howell, Adam Theo, Jason Awbery?
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

By a guest reporter:

This was a vigorously contested match with no quarter asked or given, but not a dirty match. Yet the referee managed to book six players and then send off Wimbledon's keeper for collecting a high ball and marginally (and I mean marginally) carrying the ball out of his area.

Reading scored first when Louie Soares ran onto a huge clearance from Simon Cox to beat Worgan to the ball and score. Reading were on the back foot for a while and were grateful to Cox for a good save when Nolan ran through one-on-one, but the Reading keeper went full length to hold his effort.

Wimbledon continued to press and used the high ball incessantly. In the period before half time the ref booked Andre Boucaud for a innocous challenge, soon after Simieon Howell, then Adam Theo. (Shortly after half time I believe it was Jason Awbery's turn.)

Five minutes before the break Wimbledon scored when the ref awarded a free-kick when the Wimbledon player fell over with no Reading player within five yards. From the resulting free kick Ahmet (in a game when all the back four were good) beat them to the jump and scored from ten yards.

The second half became a bit scrappy with neither side in control. Then the ref decided to put a bit of spark into the game - a long ball to the edge of the Wimbledon area was contested by Soares and the home keeper. The keeper collected the ball but his momentum carried him to the edge of his area. I was 15 yards away and could not clearly see yet the linesman on the far side flagged the ref, spoke to him, and then to everyone's amazement produced a red card. From the free kick Boucaud shot through the wall to beat the centre-half-turned-keeper.

All this did was to spur Wimbledon into a frenzy and the ref booked two of their players in quick succession. Then unfortunately Cox undid all his good work when in a sustained spell of Wimbledon pressure, after dealing with every high ball, Cox badly misjudged a corner allowing a header down for Nolan to score. The last five minutes were frenzied and the Reading keeper went some way to redeeming himself with two high quality saves - first a ball knocked down to Lewington was volleyed towards the top corner and should have been a goal, but Cox somehow flew upwards and turned the ball over. From the resulting corner Wimbledon nearly scored when Ahmet fired in a vicious low drive that was heading into the bottom corner, but Cox again made a great save.

Final score - Wimbledon 2 Reading 2

This was a hard fought contest and Reading will feel disappointed not to have all three points. Keeper Simon Cox was very impressive for 80 minutes but will have to learn to play for 90. The worst referee I have ever seen - perhaps he saw the report regarding referee Poll and feels that he has to send off and book as many players as possible to earn a reputation. If he carries on like this he will have one.

Match notes:

None.

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

None.

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