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2003/04 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: None
Assists: None
Opposition goals: After 28, 45 and 75 minutes
Half-time: Reading 0 Southampton 2
Gamebreaker: Southampton's second goal
Attendance: 5-700??, including Steve Coppell, Kevin Dillon, Frank Orton, Neil Smillie (ex-Reading), Rupert Lowe (Southampton chairman), Gordon Strachan (Southampton manager), Gary Pendry (Southampton assistant manager), Dennis Rofe (Southampton first team coach), Steve Clarke (Chelsea youth team coach), David Moss (former Macclesfield Town manager), Tommy Langley (football agent and ex-Chelsea)
Weather: Cool, dry
Referee: G D Scott
Linesmen: B Barry, K R Norris

Reading line-up: 1 Bradie Clarke; 2 Johnny Mullins, 5 Peter Castle, 6 Ahmet Rifat, 3 Darren Stapleton (16 Pierre Upton, 76 minutes); 7 Darren Campbell, 4 Ryan Crockford, 8 Ryan Catney, 10 Richard Bouton (15 Liam Marum, 55 minutes), 11 Jonathan Hayes; 9 Nathan Bailey (12 Simon Cox, 55 minutes)
Subs not used: 13 Ben Hamer, 14 Ian Griffin
Approximate starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

With defeats fairly recently against both the Under-17 and Under-19 sides from Southampton, this always looked to be a tough tie and so it proved.

Reading started brightly enough and were the better side in the first 15 minutes without looking like scoring. However, after that point Southampton took control of the tie. Appalling decisions from both linesmen helped ensure that it was all over by half-time, with two promising Reading breaks incorrectly stopped by one linesman, whilst the other allowed Southampton's killer second goal just before the break despite the scorer being clearly offside.

Reading made two substitutions early in the second half, changing the formation so that more players pushed forward, but we still only really tested the opposition keeper on one occasion when he had to tip a Peter Castle header over the bar. And Southampton scored a third towards the end, again with a question of offside as a supposedly injured forward was lying on the ground in the penalty area obstructing Bradie Clarke, although this time the scorer was definitely onside.

The Reading player who most caught the eye during the match was Jonathan Hayes on the left wing, who clearly had the beating of his opponent all night. Also, Darren Campbell on the opposite wing played well, although he was not as involved. Overall though, the disappointing result was matched by a disappointing lack of serious goal attempts from the Reading side.

Match notes:

The FA Youth Cup is for Under-18s. The starting Reading line-up contained six Under-18s and five Under-17s. Our three substitutes were one Under-17 and two Under-16s.

This was the fifth successive year (at least) that Reading have gone out of this competition at home to a club with a strong Academy system. Four of those five games were in round 3 and the other in round 4.

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

Only the Lower West Stand will be open for this game with tickets available only on the night and not in advance. Prices are as follows:
Adults - £3
Concessions - £1

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