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2003/04 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Nicky Shorey (penalty, 79 minutes), Darius Henderson (88 minutes)
Assists: Martin Butler (fouled for penalty), John Salako
Opposition goals: After 21, 34 and 80 minutes
Half-time: Reading 0 Southampton 2
Gamebreaker: Southampton's third goal
Attendance: 11,513
Weather: Showery
Referee: Iain Williamson (Theale)

Reading line-up: 1 Marcus Hahnemann; 2 Graeme Murty, 5 John Mackie, 6 Adie Williams, 3 Nicky Shorey; 7 Scott Murray (12 John Salako, 67 minutes), 4 James Harper, 10 Andy Hughes (17 Bas Savage, 88 minutes), 8 Steve Sidwell (16 Kevin Watson, 60 minutes), 11 Nathan Tyson (14 Darius Henderson, 59 minutes); 9 Nicky Forster (15 Martin Butler, 60 minutes)
Subs not used: 13 Jamie Ashdown, 18 Andre Fashanu, 19 Peter Castle
Approximate starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

The only pre-season home friendly saw Reading put in another below-par performance, with all three Southampton goals due to sloppy errors. Although some might have hoped to see new signing Shaun Goater play, his only appearance was to walk onto the pitch and wave to the fans ten minutes before kick-off. He spent the rest of the game in the directors box.

Reading started the game poorly but after that initial spell had a good period of pressure that should really have led to a goal. Scott Murray fired in a long shot that went just past the post, and we also had a few corners. At no stage did we really test the Southampton goalkeeper, though.

Southampton took the lead when a Scott Murray backpass was far too short for Marcus Hahnemann, and an opposition forward nipped in to flick the ball over our keeper and into the net. The second goal came soon after, with another backpass disaster. This time John Mackie should have passed back to Hahnemann but was given no oppourtunity to do so as instead the American came haring out of goal to clear the ball himself. It was never Hahnemann's ball and he only got there at the same time as a Southampton player. The ball squirted into the middle of the field where another Southampton player missed it completely but a third was able to aim it goalwards. By now, Hahnemann had got back to his goal but somehow failed to keep the ball out of the net. Such clowning around would be unacceptable in a competitive game and judging by his reaction Adie Williams was none too impressed as it was.

The second half saw one comedy moment, as a Southampton player who looked five yards offside was allowed to play on. Hahnemann did well to smother the ball to stop a goal. The ball fell to Adie Williams who attempted to kick it at the linesman. This would of course be OK as far as this website is concerned, but he missed by about 10 yards! Others with a view similar to that of the linesman have since told me that Graeme Murty had not moved up quickly enough on the opposite touchline and had in fact played the forward onside by a long way, so they felt the "not offside" decision was correct.

Although we didn't really look like getting a goal back, with most Reading shots going well wide of the goal or well over the bar, with 15 minutes left a Southampton defender pushed Martin Butler over to concede a penalty. Nicky Shorey is apparently still first-choice penalty taker but if he hits many more like his first attempt he won't be in the job for much longer. I think that he was trying to send the keeper the wrong way but because that failed his tame shot was easily saved. Apparently referees have been told to clamp down on keepers moving off the line to save a penalty and although they will have forgotten such instructions in a few months, at the moment everyone is still keen. So on this occasion the referee said the kick had to be re-taken - Shorey's second attempt was hit much better with the keeper unable to get to the ball despite still going the right way. It was a clear penalty, but I didn't really think it justified a retake.

If we thought we were back in the game, it took just a minute to realise we weren't. After Reading managed to give the ball away twice in 30 seconds (and obviously Southampton also giving it away once inbetween), the ball was crossed to a completely unmarked opposing player in the penalty area who hammered the ball into our net. I thought Hahnemann should have saved it, no matter how well it was hit, but he was left completely exposed.

With time running out John Salako got down the left wing and put over a nice cross that Darius Henderson hammered into the net, but the game ended in 3-2 defeat.

Match notes:

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

Only the East Stand and Lower West Stand will be open for home fans, unless demand dictates a change. Prices are as follows:
Adults - £10 in advance, £12 on the day
Wheelchair (including a helper) - £10 in advance, £12 on the day
Seniors, juniors and students - £1 up to 25/7/2003, £5 after 25/7/2003 but in advance, £6 on the day

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