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2003/04 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Scott Murray (5 minutes), Nathan Tyson (11 minutes)
Assists: Ricky Newman, Darius Henderson
Opposition goals: After 23, 33 and 83 minutes
Half-time: Brentford 2 Reading 2
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: 1,594
Weather: Very hot
Referee: David Crick (Worcester Park)

Reading line-up: 1 Jamie Ashdown; 2 Ricky Newman, 5 Peter Castle (11 Simieon Howell, 75 minutes), 6 Adie Williams (12 Chris Davies, 72 minutes), 3 Gary Middleton (18 Louie Soares, 69 minutes); 7 Scott Murray (15? Mario Noto, 69 minutes), 4 Kevin Watson (17 Andre Boucaud, 61 minutes), 8 Steve Sidwell (14 Joe Gamble, 61 minutes), 11 Bas Savage (16 Andre Fashanu, 61 minutes); 9 Darius Henderson, 10 Nathan Tyson
Subs not used: None
Starting formation:

Formation after last substitute (for the last 15 minutes):

Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

Despite my prediction, this really was just a gentle run-out, with few Reading first-teamers on show and very little conviction. Despite that, the game started well enough, with Reading creating several excellent chances in the first few minutes.

After Nathan Tyson had forced a corner, Scott Murray opened the scoring with a low shot through a crowd of players in the penalty area. Minutes later, good work from Bas Savage near the corner flag allowed him to put a cross over which eventually fell at the feet of Tyson who scored from close range.

We should have extended the lead with several good chances coming from breaks featuring the speedy Murray and Tyson. However, final shots went just over the bar or tamely to the keeper.

Instead Brentford score twice before half-time, the first after Adie Williams had failed to stop a run and the second after a ball split our defence wide open.

With masses of substitutions on both sides, the second half was disjointed and scrappy. Near the end the home side scored an undeserved winning goal, whilst our best chance for an equaliser came after Tyson got to the by-line and put over a hard cross that could have deflected off anyone into the net. Instead it hit Andre Fashanu and deflected away from goal.

Obviously, the result didn't matter, but it's still not good to let a two-goal lead slip away. The only real reason for bothering to watch this game was to see the appearance of Scott Murray, and that at least proved worthwhile.

Match notes:

Scott Murray played his first ever game in a Reading shirt.

Match preview:

The first friendly of the season is usually more of an excuse to blow away cobwebs than anything else. However, Reading apparently started their pre-season training with full sessions rather than with gentle jogging and so we might see something similar in this game.

Clearly the main interest will be in the likely first appearance of Scott Murray in a Reading shirt, but these games are also an excellent chance to see some of the younger players. Reading have announced that Jamie Ashdown will start in goal with Jamie Young as substitute, because Marcus Hahnemann only started training the day before the game.

Nicky Forster is presumably not yet fit, so we will get some clue as to how we might play without him. Apart from that, it seems unlikely that there will be any new tactical information on show, as there's no point alerting the rest of the division to how we are likely to play once the games start to count.

Obviously the last trip to Brentford was the one that saw us clinch promotion at the end of 2001/02. The obnoxious behaviour of a sizeable number of home fans on that day means that this is an opportunity to really have a (verbal) go back at them. I shall be reminding all I see that they are just another poxy little London club who are currently punching above their weight and will soon be back in Division 3 where they belong.

Ticket information:

This match is pay-on-the-day with no tickets available in advance. Reading fans are in the side stand to the right of the away end on our last visit. Prices are as follows:
Adults - £10
Seniors and Students - £5
Juniors - £1

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