Match Report vs OXFORD

Firstly and most importantly Reading were brilliant. What a perfect time to put on a performance like that - bouncing back from the mid-week defeat at Wycombe to stuff local rivals Oxford in front of the live Sky TV cameras. Perhaps it was due to the coverage of the game and the unusual time (1pm kickoff on a Sunday) but for such a game the attendance was disapointing. - However it didn't matter because the atmosphere was amazing. The South Bank sung all through the game and made the most of the TV coverage in an attempt to be heard by Mark McGhee - praticing those songs for the visit of Wolves later this season. The South Bank sung the Royals to a memorable victory over a dissapointing Oxford side.

Reading's line up was pretty much as expected - with Caskey making a return even if only on the bench. Gilkes made a start in place of Parkie. With Bobby out suspended the capable Bibbo took the keepers shirt.

The first half was incredible - Reading completely controlled the game and had almost all the posession. Oxford made a slight attempt at the very start but the game quickly slipped into Readings control. It all seemed like the Wycombe home game - but the difference was Reading looked that little bit more dangerous. All the passing football was there but we were creating more chances and kept going close to scoring. Reading took an early lead, after about 15 minutes played, when Martin Williams got into the box. As the ball became loose and in the air Martie was the first to get to it. He took it beautifully with a kind of chip volley from just inside the area in the centre. The ball curved over the keeper and dipped into the net. Oh yes! A great start as Readings pressure paid off.

Reading continued the half by trying to increase their lead. Oxford seemed too prepared to sit back and rely on a very dodgy defence and keeper - and they all just kept panicing as Reading swarmed through the middle. Oxford kept passing it back to their keeper who would hoof it up the pitch for Reading to start again. Meanwhile on the left wing Williams kept doing jinxing little runs all over the place keeping the Oxford defence all at sea. He made it easy passing players and either running eventually into someone or laying off a neat little pass.

We had a number of long range attempts to increase the lead which all seemed to zoom just over the crossbar. Holsgrove had another storming long shot as did Gooding after working his way down the centre of the pitch. Reading seemed vastly improved over recent performances simply by being prepared to go through the middle as well as using the wings. Bernal was also playing a great game down the right and one of his crosses almost found both Nogan and then Morley in the middle but both failed to get the vital touch to put it in the net. Down the Reading end Bibbo had little to do - but when needed came excellently to dive at the feet of an incoming Oxford forward. Gilkes got a foot in the face and Oxford's number 9 (Paul Moody?) kept sticking his elbows in everywhere.

Half time and one-nill to the blue and whites!

Oxford came out a different team for the second half of the game - to start with at least. They'd obviously got a bollocking at half time from the manager and also made two substitutions in the break. Their number 12 seemed to make a big difference seeming more determined and making some nippy little runs at the Reading defence. After a little bit of Oxford pressure Reading swung the game round again trying to settle it. Nogan drove a powerful shot inches over the bar.

Reading had a few nervous moments - the main one that sticks in the mind was when Williams, again at the centre of the action, cleared a shot off the line.

It was just a matter of time before we were going to settle the game. And then up popped Morley to make it 2-0 to the Royals. Bodin ran to the touch line, down the left, and put over a great cross. And there in the middle was old metal head himself to head the ball firmly into the back of the net. The South Bank erupts! ooo, Trevor Morley, ooo, Trevor Morley. Yes!!

Then it could have been three - except the ref turned our penalty down. Incidently the ref was also substituted at half time although presumably this wasn't the Oxford managers decision. It was Holsgrove who made a great run forward played a sexy one-two with Morley on the edge of the area, ran through and was floored. Definate penalty but the ref wasn't having it.

Reading's two subs made sense. Gooding went off to be replaced by Caskey and Meaker replaced Williams. Two straight forward swaps for two players who had had excellent games but after all that running must have been knackered. Gooding had been his usual determined self and all over the place getting in those vital tackles like he does. Caskey came on looking like a man trying to prove something. Practically his first touch of the ball saw him collect it well outside the Oxford area and really hit the ball - the Oxford keeper got to it well and tipped it over the bar for the corner. A sexy shot if ever there was one.

So almost everyone had a brilliant game especially Williams. But it was Gilkes who seemed to really stand out with a couple of amazing runs in a great second half performance. The first saw Bernal in the middle playing the ball in front of Gilkes streaking down the left, outpacing with ease the Oxford defender, taking it forward and shooting. But the shot didn't match the run and went wide of the post to the keepers left. His second great run was totally fantastic. He ran from inside the Reading area and, at Mach 2323, zoomed in and out of all the players, must have been about 6, in his way and left them spinning. He was about to shoot when the last defender got in the way and the ball span off for a corner.

So there you have it. We were brilliant. Oxford were shite. Reading go 8th, Oxford go 22nd (snigger) Oh, and we're above Swindon. An excellent day out. Lets hope this form continues.

Hob Nob Anyone? Man Of The Match: Martin Williams!

Graham