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2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: James Harper (52 minutes), Anthony Rougier (61 minutes), Nathan Tyson (63 minutes), Declan O'Hara (75 minutes), Joey Alcott (90 minutes)
Assists: Alex Stanley, Alex Smith (2), Joe Gamble, not sure about fifth goal
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Reading 0 Leyton Orient 0
Gamebreaker: Reading's first goal
Attendance: Approximately 50
Weather: Very cold
Referee: I Woodward
Linesmen: J Simmons, G Ward

Reading line-up: 1 Jamie Ashdown, 2 Matt Birnie, 5 Declan O’Hara, 6 Ricky Allaway, 3 Alex Stanley; 7 Joe Gamble, 8 James Harper, 4 Phil Parkinson (12 Adam Campion, 75 minutes), 11 Alex Smith; 10 Nathan Tyson, 9 Anthony Rougier (14 Joey Alcott, 80 minutes)
Subs not used: None
Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

After last week's 3-0 win away to Gillingham, Reading knew that another win here would take them up to fifth in the reserve league table. However, we all know that reserve football is more about performances, and so of more import was to maintain the high standard shown in our previous game. The team line-up was meant to be a bit less experienced this week, but as it turned out was even younger than expected because Declan O'Hara came in for John Mackie at a late stage. This was to protect Mackie from injury because Adrian Whitbread had picked up another one in training with the first team squad this morning. This left the Under-19 back four lining up in front of Jamie Ashdown, but they were tested only rarely in this game.

The first half was fairly even, with relatively little goalmouth action. However, Reading created the better chances. The first came when Nathan Tyson dispossessed the Orient right-back on the halfway line, and ran through on goal with no defenders able to catch him. However, his shot was high and wide when he should have done better.

Ashdown did have to make one really good save from an Orient shot from the edge of the area. He turned it away for a corner, but then flapped at the ball when the corner was taken. Reading had several other chances to clear the ball, but the danger finally ended with a totally unmarked Orient player shooting just wide of a post from ten yards out.

In a bizarre incident, Anthony Rougier had a chance when he ran diagonally into the Orient penalty area and got past the outrushing keeper with the ball. However, Rougier ended up on the floor near the goal-line with the ball free inbetween him and the keeper, who was now several yards out. Rougier tried to hook the ball into the net from a prone position but couldn't reach it, and the keeper was able to claim. (And if that was a poor description, meaning that you still don't really know what happened, all I can say is that you had to be there.)

Alex Smith had a shot that was deflected just wide after a good Rougier run and cross. Then in the last minute of the half, Reading should have had a penalty when from a corner Tyson was pushed away from where the ball was about to end up. Kevin Dillon, sitting in the stands these days whilst Brian McDermott manages the reserve side, was particularly vocal in the appeal.

Although there were no personnel changes at half-time, things immediately looked different and Reading enjoyed one-way traffic for much of the time. A Meridian camera crew were present, principally to interview Alan Pardew, but they stayed to video some of the game and had conveniently set up just behind the goal we were attacking when James Harper scored a superb goal. Alex Stanley played the ball towards him from about the half-way line and Harper received it on the edge of the area. He controlled the ball, turned and fired hard, with the ball flying past the keeper and into the roof of the net.

Five minutes later, we nearly had a second goal when Phil Parkinson got a good header in at the far post from a corner, but it went just wide. However, it was only a few minutes before it really was 2-0, this time with Rougier getting the ball 40 yards out and running strongly towards goal before shooting past the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Tyson made it three. He nicked in front of a defender to get to a through-ball and flicked it over the defender's head, and then lobbed the ball over the keeper as well.

After that spell, things settled down a little, and Orient had their best chance of the game after 28 minutes of the second half. A low hard cross hit Ricky Allaway and bounced kindly into Ashdown's arms. If that had given the visitors any hope, then it was extinguished two minutes later when Declan O'Hara arrived at the far post to nod home an Alex Smith free-kick.

Rougier had another good chance to score with a one-on-one with the Orient goalkeeper but the keeper failed to be taken in by Rougier's dummy and was able to save the shot. The ball rebounded to Tyson but he was unable to make anything of it.

With 10 minutes left Joey Alcott replaced Rougier, and completed the scoring in the last minute by heading the ball over the Orient keeper who was off his line.

To be kind, I should probably not mention one other incident but it has to be done. Three minutes before the end Tyson went on a good run and took the ball round the goalkeeper with no defenders in close attendance. Unfortunately, he then put his shot a yard wide with only an open goal in front of him. If he's sensible, he'll blame the pitch which was pretty awful.

Overall, though, it was another good Reading performance against relatively limited opposition. James Harper showed more in midfield than he has tended to do for the first team, always looking to make something happen with the ball, and even getting in a nice bit of skill to trap a ball falling just behind him right at the end of the game, which I could describe as showboating were it not for the fact that it would probably get him in trouble! As usual for the reserves, Alex Smith played well, this time in midfield rather than at left-back, whilst Rougier has looked sharper in his two reserve games than he has done for a while.

Match notes:

John Mackie was named in the original line-up but was withdrawn due to a training ground injury suffered by Adrian Whitbread in the morning. Declan O'Hara took his place, leaving only two substitutes. Mackie did some training runs and stretching exercises along the side of the pitch during the first half!

Match preview:

Reading have announced the following line-up:
Jamie Ashdown, Matt Birnie, Alex Stanley, John Mackie, Ricky Allaway, Joe Gamble, James Harper, Phil Parkinson, Alex Smith, Nathan Tyson, Anthony Rougier
Subs: Adam Campion, Declan O’Hara, Joey Alcott

Ticket information:

None.

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