| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| Avon Combination League | Wednesday, 13th September (2.00pm) | Colchester United | Away | Won 2-1 |
Reading goals: Henderson (2)
Attendance:
Reading line-up: Ashdown, C Smith,
Haddow, Evers, Mackie, Lockwood, Gray (Alcott), N Smith, Gamble (Strandberg),
Henderson, Tyson
Subs not used: Gosby, Birnie, Brown
Report from a Colchester United fan, Kevin Drury:
Colchester started the game badly and were immediately put under pressure by the Reading attack. In the 10th minute, defender Lee Kersey got the wrong side of Darius Henderson as a cross came over from the right, and the only way he could stop Henderson from shooting was by dragging him down. The ref awarded a penalty and after a delay (including a time-consuming drink for the Colchester keeper Andy Walker!) Henderson scored from the spot.
Towards the end of the half, a sluggish looking Andy Arnott (playing his first game since the season started) got caught in possession in the left-back position with no cover, allowing Henderson to advance to the edge of the area with Arnott trailing after him. Hendeson drove the ball home low to Walker’s left. Walker’s positioning left a bit to be desired, very much in the centre of his goal leaving a big gap to his left-hand post.
Colchester had two good chances which would have beaten Jamie Ashdown in the Reading goal - Tom English had failed to make a proper connection with a free header on the edge of the six yard box, and so glanced it wide. Also after Colchester’s best move of the game, Sam Okafor sent a full-pelt diving header past the post from a similar distance.
At half-time it was 2-0 to Reading, and the second half produced a lot of effort from both sides with little end-product. Walker had to make one good save launching himself to his left to push a shot past the post for a corner. Ashdown also pulled off a good save from Tony Lock. Very near the end, Okafor made a strong run from the midfield, played a one-two as he approached the penalty area, and finished well to give Colchester a consolation goal.
My overall impression was that it was a fair result.
Those who particularly caught my eye for Reading:
Alex Haddow – the most impressive, just for his general play.
Darius Henderson – far too strong a target man for trialist
Lee Kersey and the half-fit Arnott.
Neil Smith – bossed the midfield
Nathan Tyson – for his pace
The only one who particularly struck me as not having a good game was Adam Lockwood, especially in the second half. He generally was making mistakes - giving the ball away, slicing clearances into touch, getting beaten in tackles, and so on.
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