| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| Friendly | Saturday, 4th August (3pm) | Farnborough Town | Away | Drew 1-1 |
Match facts:
Reading goal: Adam Campion (28
minutes)
Assist:
Opposition goal: After 47 minutes
Half-time: Farnborough Town 0 Reading 1
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: 365
Reading line-up: Simon Cox; Ricky
Allaway, Declan O'Hara, Barry Hunter, Adam Lockwood; Chris Casper
(Alex Stanley (Chris Casper)), Adam Campion, Paul Mortimer, Steve
Laidler; Scott Williams, Andre Fashanu
Subs: Nathan Stamp, Louis Soares, Jason Awbery
Reading yellow cards: None?
Reading red cards: None, but Chris Casper was forcibly
substituted by the referee before being allowed to return
Match report:
By a guest reporter:
The Reading XI selected for this game was basically the same as that which started the game against Kingstonian last week, except for Barry Hunter and Paul Mortimer who replaced John Mackie and Neil Smith. This was a much sterner test than the Ks game and the young side responded well. Simon Cox had another fine game as did Adam Campion and Steve Laidler although everybody contributed. Farnborough had an almost full strength side, playing two England non-league players and were on top for long spells.
Farnborough went close on a number of occasions and Cox was sharp when punching clear under pressure after 20 minutes. Then against the run off play Reading took the lead when Campion, running onto a long clearance from Cox, crossed from the byline and deceived the keeper who helped the ball into the net. Farnborough were a good side and soon had Reading on the back foot and only a splendid save from Cox diving low at full stretch to deny Gary Patterson kept the score at 1-0.
Reading although under pressure were well organized and soon began hitting the home team on the break. Just before half-time Williams went close with a stinging drive.
The second half began disastrously for the Royals as one minute into the half a poor defensive header went straight to Patterson who lobbed a ball back on the edge of the area and Lockwood and Hunter left the ball to each other. Chris Piper ran on to the ball to smash home the equaliser.
The second half went much the same as the first with Reading defending and then counter-attacking. Cox made another good save full length to hold a rasping drive from Piper but with ten minutes left the referee made one of the strangest decisions I have ever seen. After penalising Chris Casper he then made Kevin Dillon substitute him. Under extreme protest Alex Stanley replaced Casper who then ten minutes later came back on to replace Stanley.
This was a battling performance by a young Reading side against a capable Farnborough side with many players putting their best foot forward. Cox once again, for someone who is only just 17, has the potential to be a good prospect. Campion was also eye-catching, a wizard on the ball and defensively he was much stronger. Ricky Allaway was strong as was Laidler - in fact all the young players gave good performances and once again this year the reserve side with the first team players and youngsters should be a force to be reckoned with.
The reserve side have a fixture against Swindon Supermarine on Monday evening away but I imagine the first team fringe players will replace many of the youngsters.
Match notes:
Match preview:
On Friday, 3rd August Reading stated that the
squad would include the following:
Goalkeeper - Simon Cox
Midfielders - Matt Birnie, Adam Campion, trialist Paul Mortimer,
Steve Laidler
Forward - Andrew Fashanu
Ticket information:
None.
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