Match Report - Home vs Charlton

Division One
7 May 1995

READING 2 Charlton 1
Nogan, Williams
Att: 12,100

On the way to the match listening to Radio Berks it was suggested Reading were going to really turn on the class, and Williams was quoted as saying they'd be aiming for 4 or 5. That never happened and the match wasn't the greatest ever but it was a wonderful end to an amazing season that sees Reading finish second - 2 points ahead of Boltonton. This has been an amazing season and there now no reason at all why we shouldn't dispose of Tranmere in the Play Off legs and go on to win at Wembley. Premiership football is now just 3 matches away. Its a grat sign when Reading can play like they did and still run out winners. Overall the game was about equal with Reading just doing enough to win the game, but even last season it would have been impossible to imagine Charlton coming to Elm Park as such underdogs. So the game wasn't much but the atmosphere was and easily made up for it as a packed South Bank partyed Reading into second place!

The Royals started brightly from the kick off making a couple of chances before deservedly taking the lead after about 10 minutes. Gooding got the ball inside the Charlton half and shook off his marker with ease before spotting Nogan making a run in towards the area. Gooding delivered an excellent pass for Nogan to run onto taking the ball up to the keeper on the left side and chipping the ball over the goalies diving body. The ball was in the net - "to the champions 1-0, to the champions 1-0!", and we all started partying. Lee '6 million` Nogan taking the applause of the crowd and several chorus' of Nogans wonderland.

The rest of the half Reading sat on their lead, needing to do little against an inexperienced Charlton team who looked unlikely to finish. The second half was different as Shaka, voted Readings player of the year, pulled off some amazing saves to the delight of the Reading faithful. Twice he made point blank saves from powerful shots from close distance. Eventually Charltons pressure paid off from a corner. As the ball came across a head made contact and Gooding on the line couldn't jump high enough.

Andy Bernal had a terrific game as right back creating several chances and annoying the Charlton attack. Once he made his was past a few defenders and into a shooting chance but took the ball too wide making an easy stop for the keeper in the Charlton goal. When the ball came across the middle somehow Lovell fired well high from just a few yards out. Tom Jones replaced Bernal eventually. Nogan almost sneaked a second with a volley that hit the crossbar.

With about 4 minutes left Quinn put himself on inplace of Lovell and the substitution paid off as Reading won a corner on the right. The Charlton defenders obviously aware of Quinns goal scoring ability and Quinn attracted two markers. The corner from Tom Jones came across and over the head of Quinn to Williams waiting towards the left side of the area and almost unmarked, Williams rose and headed the ball with power into the net. The celebrations began.