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2003/04 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Martin Butler (42 minutes), John Salako (69 minutes), Nicky Forster (78 minutes)
Assists: Bas Savage (2), Joe Gamble
Opposition goal: After 91 minutes, in second half injury time
Half-time: Didcot Town 0 Reading 1
Gamebreaker: Reading's second goal
Attendance: 675
Referee:
Linesmen:
Weather: Dry, sunny

Reading line-up: 1 Jamie Ashdown; 2 Chris Davies (15 James Harper, 54 minutes), 5 Peter Castle, 6 Marc Edworthy, 3 Gary Middleton (14 Ahmet Rifat, 50 minutes); 7 Mario Noto (12 Nathan Tyson, 54 minutes (20 Nicky Shorey, 81 minutes)), 4 Kevin Watson (17 Steve Sidwell, 50 minutes), 8 Joe Gamble, 11 John Salako; 10 Martin Butler (19 Nicky Forster, 76 minutes), 9 Bas Savage (18 Darius Henderson, 70 minutes)
Subs not used: Marcus Hahnemann, John Mackie
Approximate starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

I was watching the Reading players warm up for this game, knowing that there was one player I didn't recognise. Turned out to be new trialist Marc Edworthy. He played on the left side of central defence at the start of the match and had a comfortable game there. Later he moved out to left-back, and I can't remember him touching the ball whilst playing there other than for a throw-in!

Overall, Reading played comfortably well against Didcot Town, creating a decent number of chances and taking three of them. We should have taken the lead after 8 minutes when Joe Gamble fired way over the bar after being set up by Martin Butler. Later in the half, both Darius Henderson and Mario Noto had chances before Bas Savage crossed the ball for Butler to head home just before half-time.

Butler could have had a second early in the second half but hit the post after another cross, and it took until the last quarter of the match before John Salako slotted the ball past the keeper after a through-ball from Savage. The third goal came shortly afterwards with a defence-splitting pass from Gamble that left Nicky Forster in the clear with a shot that he made look easy.

In injury-time, Didcot pulled one goal back from a corner, but overall it's the first game I've seen this season that was enjoyable.

Match notes:

Marc Edworthy is a trialist, released by Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer.

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

Prices are:
Adults - £4
Children - £1.50

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