FA Premier Reserve League – South
	    Madejski Stadium, Reading
	 Wednesday 4th October 2006, 7.00pm
 
	 
 	     READING    V      SPURS  
	 (Blue/White)       (White/Blue)  
              4-4-2            4-4-2
 
 	      0(0)            1(0)
 
 	   Graham Stack 1 Radek Cerny
	urtis Osano (C) 2 Phil Ifil
 	     John Halls 3 Charlie Daniels
            James Henry 4 Stuart Lewis
           Adam Bygrave 5 Charlie Lee(C)
            Andre Bikey 6 Dorian Dervite
            Pierre
           Joseph-Dubois7 Jacques Maghoma
             John Oster 8 Jake Livermore
             Shane Long 9 Tomas Pekhart
          Simon Church 10 Kieran McKenna
          Stephen Hunt 11 Reto Ziegler
 
          Julian Kelly 12 Cian Hughton
                          (5) 20 Mins.
         Alex McCarthy 13 Tommy Forecast
       Nicholas Bignall14 Jamie Davis
         (7) 60 Mins.       (7) 85 Mins.
           Tom Hateley 15 Takura Mtandari
       Harrison Bayley 16  David Hutton    
 
Scorer:-                  McKenna 72 Mins.
 
Booked:-
Halls (Late tackle) 80 Mins.
 
Referee:-
Mr. J. Linnington
Asst. Referees:-
J. Busby, A. Coggins
 
Attendence  - Approx. 1,500
 

As Paul was unable to attend, I made my way to the Madejski Stadium to report back on the Reserves' attempt to retain the title they won last season. Both sides went into this match unbeaten after three games.

Spurs lined up with Lee and Dervite at the back with Ifil at right back and Daniels at left back. Lewis and Livermore in central midfield with Maghoma on the right and Ziegler on the left wing. The versatile McKenna partnered Pekhart up front, although he had a floating role dropping into the middle for much of the time.

Spurs kicked off the first half and had to defend for the opening quarter of an hour as the home side's lively forwards gave our defenders a hard time but only had one good chance which Church put wide in the eighth minute. Four minutes later Dervite had the visitors first chance when he headed Zieglers corner over.

Charlie Lee took a heavy knock early on which needed treatment and, after going down for a third time, he was substituted by Hughton who took up the right back position, while Phil Ifil moved inside and the Captain’s armband was given to Charlie Daniels.

Neither keeper had to make a save in the first half as the game was played between the two penalty areas and the defenders prevented or coped with anything closer from dead ball situations. When McKenna went close halfway through the half it started a swing towards the visitors and Stack was forced to pick up a backpass as Pekhart closed him down. The Royals' defence held firm as Zieglers effert was charged down and the follow ups were blocked. This led to a sustained spell of pressure from Spurs, with the ball hardly getting out of the home sides half. However, the Reading defence held firm and with two break-outs at the end of 45 minutes could have threatened a goal.

Reading started the second half strongly and Church hit a post with Cerny beaten in the 57th minute but Spurs responded well and Stack had to make his first real save from Ziegler two minutes later. Reading brought on another striker who had managed a couple of efforts before Spurs scored. Ziegler’s corner was headed back by Pekhart at the far post for McKenna to get between two defenders to head home.

Reading pushed forward looking for an equaliser, which left space for Spurs to counter. First McKenna had a shot tipped over, then Ziegler had a chance turned away. Jacques Maghoma who had been doing well down the right pulled up sharply as he chased another through ball and had to be replaced.

With Spurs finishing strongly Halls collected a caution trying to stop Ziegler, and the defenders had to make last ditch clearances as the game ended.

It was a game of few chances with both defences on top. Bikey (for Reading) and Dervite (for Spurs) stood out. Spurs' better skills finally allowed them to get on top towards the end of each half, and once they had the lead there was only going to be one winner. I can see that the Premiership game is likely to be just as tough. The win puts us behind the gooners at the top of the table three goals behind with our next game away to Watford at Vicarage Road on the 16th October

Ray

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