1871 - the ultimate Reading FC website

2000/01 Reports

Reading goals: None
Attendance:

Reading line-up: Ashdown, Polston, Shorey, N Smith, Mackie, Casper (Lockwood), Gurney, Gamble (Campion), Henderson (Allaway), Alcott, Tyson
Subs not used: None

The Berks & Bucks Senior Cup is a long established trophy, and Reading have won it on several occasions. Because we reached last season's final, we were exempt until the 4th round (which is the quarter-final stage) this season. Typically Reading have played a reserve side in the competition, and this year was no exception. Unfortunately, however, this 1-0 defeat means that our chance for local cup glory is over for another year.

The team line-up for the game was announced in advance, so it was not a surprise to see Chris Casper run out for the warm-up. This was his first appearance since breaking a leg in a tackle on 26th December 1999 against Cardiff City. Also in the team after recovering from injuries were John Polston, playing at right back for his second game, and Darius Henderson who like Casper was playing his first game back. When the teams were announced over the PA system, however, it was only Casper who got special applause from the Reading fans present.

The only surprise in the rest of the team was that Sean Evers was not playing, given that he had been named in the announced team. At the time I didn't think too much of it, but with hindsight this was obviously because transfer negotiations with Plymouth Argyle were either completed or at an advanced stage.

Reading started brightly with some good moves down the left wing involving Nathan Tyson, Nicky Shorey and Joe Gamble. However, the first chance fell to Maidenhead when Jamie Ashdown dropped a free-kick. Reading were able to clear the ball, though. From this move we immediately broke upfield and Gamble was able to meet a cross with a first-time volley that was straight at the keeper.

Halfway through the first half, Tyson went on a good run past several players which was ended only by a foul. The free-kick was in a fairly dangerous position but the shot went over the bar. This proved costly when a few minutes later, Maidenhead attacked down the left wing. Their player cut inside and beat Ashdown at the near post with a low shot to make the score 1-0.

Neil Smith picked up a booking after the referee didn't award a free-kick for a blatant handball by a Maidenhead midfielder. I heard exactly what Smith said to the ref and so I know why he got booked, but I couldn't possibly repeat it here! At about this time it started to rain quite heavily and most people moved for the covered areas. I noticed that one person stayed out in the pouring rain on our left flank - he looked vaguely familiar and I realised that it was Martin Allen doing a bit of touchline coaching (presumably legally given that he was standing on the terrace). Perhaps this was why our left-sided players were doing so well, and in another attack down that flank, Shorey beat several defenders with a strong run before crossing the ball. It came to Smith in a bit of space but he shot well wide.

We continued to push forward, and Gamble came close with a shot that the goalkeeper touched onto the post. The ball stayed in play and Gamble got to it first - he crossed tha ball back to the far postwhere Tyson headed it back into the centre and Darius Henderson won the header but put it over the bar.

That was the last action of the first half, and at half-time Adam Lockwood replaced Casper. I hadn't noticed Casper too often which was partly because he never ventured forward and I was standing behind the goal that Reading were attacking. When I did spot him on the ball he looked to be bringing it forward comfortably enough and looking for good simple passes to our midfield, much in the same style as when he last played.

I think that we switched to 3-5-2 at the start of the second half, with Shorey and Gurney playing as wing-backs. What proved to be our best chance for an equaliser came in the opening minutes of the half, when Polston got a free header from a Shorey corner but headed wide. Maidenhead had some good attacks in the half but failed to get shots on target.

With 20 minutes or so left, Ricky Allaway replaced Henderson, with John Mackie being pushed up front. Whether due to this swap or not, we started to get more of the game. Tyson made a run down the left and crossed but Joey Alcott couldn't get his shot in. Instead the ball came to Smith whose shot was deflected closer to the goal but still went just wide. From the resulting corner, there was a bit of a goalmouth scramble before the referee gave a free-kick to Maidenhead.

Tyson was booked for a foul, and then Adam Campion replaced Gamble. Soon after, Tyson had a decent chance but hit the ball straight at the keeper. With only a few minutes left, Alcott got the ball in the area but again couldn't control it to get a shot in - this time it was cleared for a corner. From the corner, Allaway had a free header but placed it straight at the keeper.

There was a lot time added on at the end of the half, and just into injury time there was an almighty scramble in the Maidenhead goalmouth. A defender trying to clear the ball instead kicked it against one of our attackers, and the ball headed goalwards before the keeper just managed to palm it away for a corner (which we wasted).

In the fourth minute of injury time, Andy Gurney had a long shot saved at the cost of another corner. The Maidenhead goalkeeper dropped the corner-kick but was able to dive on it - he then started a break which led to a Maidenhead shot that Ashdown was able to push wide.

The referee blew for full-time and the Maidenhead fans started singing "There's only one team in Berkshire". They probably deserved their victory although Reading certainly had chances to score. It was my first sight of Nicky Shorey and he looked a decent player - in fact, after years of having no good left-sided players it looks as if we now might have too many!

Home . Reserves Index

News . First Team . Opposition . Academy . Where Are They Now? . Columns . Kingsley . MadStad . Interactive . Links . Site Map