It was a fine afternoon at the Abbey Stadium as the men in Amber took on another team fancied to do well this season in Reading. They have an expensive squad with several talented players, rather like recent games this was another real step up to league 1. Thank you to the team on the gate for providing team sheets to help with my weekly match reports. A crowd of 7129 including 1086 from Berkshire made up yet another decent crowd. For the U’s, there were 2 changes with Sullay KaiKai and Raees Bangura-Williams (now called BW) recalled to the team. United’s bench had a healthy look about it. What was really sad though was just before kick off 3 Reading players were running up and down the pitch. Included was no. 28 Josh Stokes, one of the best players to wear an amber shirt in recent years, yet not even on the bench for the visitors. He would get first team football here.
United won the toss and attacked the South Stand. Reading kicked off and played some attractive passing football. The first effort on goal came from the visitors captain Lewis Wing who had a long range effort charged down. Danger man Lisbie who is a real live wire planted a Lane cross at goal but that too was cleared. United forward Gassan Ahadme was being manhandled every time he went to head the ball, play being allowed to continue. The visitors no 4 Rinomhota, despite fouling Ahadme was going to ground very quickly in order not to upset the referee. BW swung over a corner on 30 but KaiKai fired high and wide. The visitors were getting on top and showed why they are favourites for promotion or the play offs. United were struggling to keep in the game.
Malife fired in a shot following a pass from Wing, the effort being blocked. Fellow danger man Marriott set up Earthy who fired in another good shot bringing out the best in home keeper Eastwood who saved well low down. United were undone on 38 when Wing played in a long pass, Cathal Heffernan tried to head clear but the ball struck Marriott, who sliced his shot into goal from 12 yards for 0-1, it had been coming. The lively Marriott then set up Earthy after a clever back heel but his shot was blocked, it was played sideways to Lane who fired in a shot pushed away by Eastwood at full stretch. United needed to pull their socks up but Callum Perry set up Ahadme who fired in an effort which was cleared. Half time came at 0-1, with the visitors on top and United needing to up their game.
Before the second half started, United changed BW and Owen Moxon with Shayne Lavery and Pelly Mapanzu. The tricky Lisbie was soon on the move and his speed and skill set up Earthy whose shot was cleared. Earthy then set up Marriott but his effort was saved by Eastwood. Lane then shot high over as the visitors continued to play well. Then United struck. Some sloppy play by the Reading Royals lost possession to Callum Perry, he fired over a cross to the far post where the smallest man on the pitch, Liam Bennett looped a header toward the far post beating keeper Pereira and dropped over the line into the net with the visiting defence playing statues. That made it 1-1 and it was game on. Reading tried to get back in front with Malife setting up Lisbie, his shot went narrowly wide.
United though were clearly lifted by Bennett’s goal and started attacking in numbers. Mapanzu settling into the game well won possession and played a great pass to KaiKai who cut in and fired a powerful shot towards the bottom corner, but keeper Pereira saved well tipping the ball wide. The corner came over and was only half cleared. Ben Knight got possession passed to Mapanzu who crossed for Kell Watts to majestically plant a header into the top corner for 2-1. A terrific goal and the game had completely turned around. Lisbie cut in from the right after being set up by Rinomhota, Lisbie’s lob hit the far post and was cleared. On 65 Ahadme was booked for a foul on Lane. However he had been on the end of some rough treatment. United though were on the up and looked really good on the break. As the ball was played into the Reading box, Heffernan headed on for Lavery to fire in a shot saved low down by Pereira.
United were now giving as good as they got and were finding their men particularly on fast breaks. Reading are a good side but were plainly guilty of overplaying at the back and were lucky not to concede a further goal when a back pass evaded the keeper and went out for a United corner. On 72 Reading replaced Marriott and Lisbie with Brown and Williams. This surprised me as Lisbie had been the visitors best player. Wing set up Brown who shot wide. In a now pulsating end to end game, Ahadme freed Lavery on the right who fired in a terrific ground shot again well saved by Pereira. Ben Knight then had an effort but his shot lacked power. Malife crossed for Williams to fire wide for the visitors.
Sullay KaiKai then fired narrowly wide and this was an attritional game at its very best. On 78 Reading replaced Rinomhota and Roberts with Savage and former Stevenage striker Jamie Reed (where do they get the money !).
Callum Perry took one for the team on 80 making sure that Malife did not break further. Wing shot again but United were getting bodies behind the ball and cleared. It was exciting stuff. Ben Knight set up Lavery but his shot was underhit and cleared. On 85 United replaced Perry and Ahadme with Zak Bradshaw and Sam Curtis. When trying to break Lavery was fouled earning Reading’s Williams a yellow card. United broke well in stoppage time with the ball finding Lavery on the edge of the box, but as he tried to make sure his shot was cleared. Louis Appere then replaced Knight in the closing moments. United saw the 4 minutes of stoppage time out to win by 2-1.
So I thought the U’s had played another team who will be thereabouts at the end of the season following games against Huddersfield and Bradford City. United have shown up well but were a little lost for the last 20 minutes in the first half. Manager Neil Harris does have the Midas touch with once again inspired substitutions. United fought their hearts out against a very wealthy team who looked stunned at United’s fightback. Star man for me was Gassan Ahadme who took several heavy challenges in the game and never stopped working. Mentions in dispatches also go to Liam Bennett, Sullay KaiKai and Pelly Mapanzu who all had fine games. Just where would we be if we had the further 3 points that we deserve. You work it out. This team is proving itself.
Ref Watch – Ollie Yates -8 A breath of fresh air with such an experienced referee. No nonsense and let play continue when he could. Didn’t agree with everything but he had a fine game and I look forward to seeing him again this season.