| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| Nationwide League Division 2 | Saturday, 3rd November | Northampton Town | Away | Won 2-0 |
Match facts:
Reading goals: Jamie Cureton (52
minutes), Martin Butler (93 minutes, in second-half injury time)
Assists: John Salako, Neil Smith
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Northampton Town 0 Reading 0
Gamebreaker: Reading's first goal
Attendance: 5,162
Referee: Paul
Rejer (Leamington Spa)
Reading line-up: 1 Phil Whitehead;
2 Graeme Murty, 8 Adie Williams, 5 Adi Viveash, 28 Nicky Shorey;
11 Andy Hughes, 15 James Harper, 6 Kevin Watson (17 Neil Smith,
77 minutes), 29 John Salako; 9 Martin Butler, 12 Jamie Cureton (24
Darius Henderson, 84 minutes)
Subs not used: 21 Jamie Ashdown, 26 Alex Smith, 10 Nicky Forster
Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None
Match report:
Only time for a brief report, I'm afraid, but this game may well mark a turn in fortunes. There was a clear change in tactics which involved more passing of the ball. We did however, as usual, lose our way once scoring, and yet again decided to sit on a lead and failed to hold onto the ball.
The two loan players both had an effect on the game. In the opening quarter of an hour, Kevin Watson looked like he would almost run the show, as he played intelligent passes and anchored our midfield. However, I thought he faded after that and did little more in the rest of the half. After half-time, he injured himself whilst making a tackle, but carried on and played well until being substituted to a standing ovation from the Reading fans.
John Salako showed skill on occasions, and provided some good old-fashioned wingplay. He was able to beat the defenders comfortably and put over some decent crosses. The one corner I can remember him taking would have been good were it not for the fact that a defender obstructed Adi Viveash in his attempts to get to where the ball was heading. This meant that it sailed out for a throw-in and looked pretty bad. (Needless to say, we did not get a penalty for the foul in the area on Viveash.)
Salako's main contribution of note was in our first goal. We were defending when Martin Butler won the ball and threaded a pass through to Salako on the left wing. He charged down the wing to almost the byline and put the ball right to the far post where Jamie Cureton was waiting to score from a narrow angle.
We defended for much of the game after that, but had chances to score on the break. Butler was put through by Cureton near the end, but shot tamely at the keeper. Fortunately, a few minutes later and during injury time, he got another chance after Neil Smith won the ball in midfield and put Butler clear on goal again. This time he made no mistake, slotting the ball home to clinch the points.
We had manufactured some chances in the first half as well, but most failed due to weak or wayward shooting.
Overall, it was an encouraging performance, but the fact is that the opposition were woeful and we were hanging on in the last stages of the game. There are two simple lessons, one of which must be learnt now, or at least before we play a game against a better side who can punish our elementary errors:
(a) Do NOT under any circumstances sit on a one
goal lead.
(b) If the advice in (a) is ignored, then pass the ball around to
run out the clock rather than giving it away at every opportunity.
Match notes:
Kevin Watson and John Salako both made their League debuts for Reading.
Martin Butler scored his first goal from open play this season.
Phil Parkinson missed the game through a one match suspension.
Match preview:
None.
Ticket information:
In previous visits to Northampton, we have received 850 tickets for the South Stand (the away end), and 423 tickets for a section of the Family Stand (the stand on the right looking from the away end, also known as the Alwyn Hargrave Stand). For this season, Northampton Town have agreed with their local council that away fans for certain games can receive a further section of the Family Stand when there is sufficient demand. This means that should we sell out our initial allocation, there may be a further 400 tickets available.
Reading have received 850 South Stand tickets and 400 Family Stand tickets, which went on sale to season ticket holders from Monday, 8th October, to Supporters' Club members from Monday, 15th October, and on general sale from Tuesday, 16th October. Seats in the Family Stand are only available if at least one Under-16 ticket is purchased.
The game is all-ticket and prices are as follows:
South Stand - £12 for adults, £8.50 for senior citizens and
Under-16s.
Family Stand - £13 for adults, £7 for senior citizens and Under-16s.
News . Opposition . Reserves . Academy . Where Are They Now? . Columns . Kingsley . MadStad . Interactive . Links . Site Map