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2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goal: Steve Warren (93 minutes, in second-half injury-time)
Assist: ?
Opposition goals: After 48 and 54 minutes
Half-time: Oxford United 0 Reading 0
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: Approximately 72, including Alan Pardew, Nicky Hammond, Kevin Dillon, Ian Atkins (Oxford United manager), Gary Phillips (ex-Reading player and Hemel Hempstead manager?), Brian Talbot (Rushden & Diamonds manager), Terry Brown (Hayes manager), Gary Porter (ex-Watford player)
Weather: Wet

Reading line-up: 1 Frank Talia; 2 Ricky Allaway, 5 Leo Roget, 6 Adi Viveash, 3 Alex Smith; 7 James Harper, 4 Kevin Watson (14 Steve Warren, half-time), 8 Joe Gamble, 11 Nathan Tyson; 9 Martin Butler (15 Joey Alcott, half-time), 10 Bas Savage
Subs not used: 12 Alex Stanley
Reading yellow cards: Alex Smith (dissent, 41 minutes)
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

This was technically an Oxford United home game, but played at Reading's training ground. It was good to see Martin Butler get a 45-minute run-out, although it appeared that he is still some distance from full fitness. Kevin Watson played the first half as well, and sprayed some typical classy passes around.

Overall, though, the Reading performance was a bit disjointed with few serious attempts on goal. The main incidentas of the first half occurred around the mid-point. First, Butler had a decent shooting chance after a nice flick-on from Bas Savage, but Butler handled to control the ball and so conceded a free-kick. There was time for Frank Talia to make a good save before Reading's best move of the game. A fantastic ball by Watson out to James Harper on the right wing allowed Harper to cut inside and put in a good shot that the Oxford keeper saved. The rebound came to Nathan Tyson on the left side of goal, but from a very tight angle his shot flashed across the face of the goal.

After half-time, Oxford seemed to step up a gear and scored two goals fairly quickly. The first came when Leo Roget allowed a ball to bounce over his head and a nippy Oxford forward was able to latch onto it and slot the ball past Talia. Then a few minutes later the second came from a left-wing cross. A tall forward got enormous height on his jump and headed the ball neatly just inside Talia's far post.

Reading had some chances to get back into the game. Tyson beat a defender to get into a one-on-one with the keeper, but was unable to beat the goalkeeper's block. Then a superb Alex Smith run past several defenders ended with a shot against the foot of the post. Smith was booked a few minutes later when his next run was adjudged to have taken the ball over the by-line, something he clearly did not agree with.

There had been a lengthy and apparently serious injury to an Oxford player midway through the half, and that meant a lot of time added on. After three minutes of this, trialist Steve Warren marked his appearance with a goal from close range at the far post. There was still time for Reading to make a couple more forward moves, but not to force an equaliser.

Obviously the significance of this reserve game from a Reading point of view is really in the fitness of Butler and Watson, although it would have been nice to win as well. Leo Roget played well in defence, and has to have a chance of signing a permanent deal with us for next season.

Match notes:

Martin Butler made his return from injury, making this his first appearance in a Reading shirt since 6th November against Wrexham. Kevin Watson also played, to improve his fitness levels.

Trialist Steve Warren played the second half of this game and also scored the Reading goal. He has been released by Crystal Palace.

Match preview:

Reading have announced the following line-up:
Frank Talia, Ricky Allaway, Alex Smith, Leo Roget, Adi Viveash, Kevin Watson, James Harper, Joe Gamble, Nathan Tyson, Martin Butler, Bas Savage
Subs: Alex Stanley, Steve Warren, Joey Alcott

Steve Warren on the bench is a trialist, most recently with Crystal Palace.

Normally, this Oxford United home game would take place at Court Place Farm, the home of Oxford City, but apparently the pitch there is very heavy after the recent rain. Reading's Martin Butler is looking to make his return from injury by playing 45 minutes of this match, and the Oxford media are saying that Reading are insisting that the game takes place on a decent surface. I'm not really sure why Oxford would listen to us in that case, but for whatever reason the venue is likely to change.

Apparently, Madejski Stadium and Didcot Town were ruled out, with the game to be played at Reading's training ground at Sonning. However, Oxford say it is a 1pm kick-off behind closed doors, whilst Reading say it is 2pm and don't mention the closed doors bit!

And a word of warning - a couple of weeks ago, a Bristol City fan rang up Reading to find out where our reserve game against his club was taking place. He was informed that the game had been switched to Didcot. When he arrived at Didcot he found an Under-19 game in full swing (switched from Cantley) which he watched a bit of before heading to Newbury for the game he actually wanted to see!

Ticket information:

None.

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