LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO WYCOMBE WANDERERS 0 READING 2 (Half Time: 0-0) |
|
Reading Scorers:
Cureton (68 mins), Henderson (90 mins). Wycombe Scorers: - |
Date:
26 February 2002 Attendance: 9,250 |
Reading: Whitehead, Murty, Mackie, Viveash, Shorey, Hughes, Igoe, Parkinson, Salako, Cureton (Rougier 75), Forster (Henderson 88). Subs not used: Ashdown, Harper, Roget. Wycombe Wanderers: Taylor, Senda, Tuttle, Rogers, Vinnicombe, Currie (Ryan 81), Bulman, Simpson, Brown (Roberts 63), Devine, McSporran (Baird 70). Subs not used: Emblen, Lee. Bookings: McSporran (Wycombe) Hughes , Igoe (Reading) |
This was another great performance from the Royals. Pardew stuck with the side
that were so impressive over Stoke City on last Saturday and they duely won
the full three points from what could have been a very tough fixture against
Wycombe Wanderers. Wycombe needed a win to keep their play-off ambitions up,
and the game against league leaders Reading atttracted their highest ever home
gate at Adams Park. The crowd of just over 9,000 weren't treated to a great
first half with the ball swirling everywhere in the strong wind. However, it
was Reading that were to take control after a scrappy first half. The home fans
were given little to cheer about and it was the away fans behind the goal that
made all the noise to push Reading to victory with a superb second half performance
away from home. Reading showed all the marks of a championship winning side,
and at the final whistle the Reading players had to be practically restrained
by the stewards to prevent them from joining the celebrations behind the goal.
When Jamie Cureton popped up to put Reading ahead on 68 minutes he disappeared
for a good few minutes, mobbed by delighted travelling fans. Well after the
final whistle the Reading team's warm down saw Reading fans return to give their
heros another massive ovation before finally heading off to cope with the traffic.
The Reading fans love this team, and the team clearly love the fans. It's an
amazing mixture that's going to take Reading up into Division One.
Graham
Following report by John Wells
This evening the Royals played like champions. After a fairly even first half
Reading stepped up a gear and swept aside a strong Wycombe side with a fine
display of attacking football. Once again Reading created numerous scoring opportunities
with sharp accurate passing and good movement off the ball. With Rougier available
after suspension there was a lot of speculation over the selection of forwards.
Pardew opted for the same starting line up that had seen off Stoke on Saturday.
His decision proved correct yet again when Cureton was in the right place to
score from close range after Taylor had parried Forster's shot.
The game kicked off 15 minutes late following the chaotic traffic around the ground which also delayed the Reading team coach. Reading started brightly and controlled the early part of the game. They should have taken an early lead when Forster broke clear but was unable to finish with only Taylor to beat. Cureton had a free kick well saved by Taylor. Wycombe battled hard and forced their way back into the game and in a brief spell the forced six corners in quick succession. The Royals defence held firm and Whitehead was not called upon to make a save. The referee managed to upset the Reading fans and players with a string of strange and incorrect decisions. Fortunately none of his errors had any great impact on the game.
The second half belonged to Reading as they tore into their opponents forcing them back with sweeping passing moves and aggressive running. Even Salako who has been having a relatively quiet time in recent games got caught up on the mood and joined the rest of the midfield in competing fiercely for every loose ball and looking to attack with purpose at every opportunity. The Royals domination made the breakthrough seem inevitable. Cureton finally converted a chance in the 67th minute. Clearly not content with one goal they continued to press for a second although we had to wait until the last minute for it to come. Salako slid the ball through. Henderson timed his run well to beat the offside trap, kept his head, and took it round Taylor before rolling the ball into the empty net. For a player that looks so ungainly he showed tremendous skill and control with his finish.
Once again this was a great team performance but in my opinion Murty was at his best and nobody worked harder than Hughes. Adie Viveash was very composed and kept possession well with little touches to Shorey and Mackie. He also came close to scoring a very good goal with a curling shot across the goal which went just past the post. Rougier found it hard to adjust to the pace of the game when he replaced Cureton with 15 minute left to play and may find himself back on the bench at Cambridge. As for Wycombe their best player was Taylor. Not only did he make several incredible saves but he responded with good humour to the taunts of the Reading fans. He saved his side from a heavy defeat and for his trouble all he got was a nasty whack when he came out bravely to prevent Hughes from scoring.
At the end of the game the delight of the fans was mirrored by the players.
Everyone is on a high at the moment and it is hard to see who is going to stop
us from taking the title. That issue may well be decided against Brighton. Promotion
is definitely looking a good bet now. Although there are still quite a few points
to play for we are beginning to lose touch with the play-off 'pack'.
John Wells
Post
Match Opinions
|
Parked the car miles from the ground, as we panicked along with hundreds
of others, thinking that we would only be able to listen to the commentary
on radio, whilst sat stationary in the appalling Wycombe traffic. Half
ran, half stumbled, down that bloody long hill, to find that kick off
had been delayed. We still missed the first 10 minutes, and our seats
were already taken. The stewards seemed annoyed that they had to find
us 2 seats together, but eventually showed us to a couple. I was informed
that we hadn't missed much, and what we saw of the rest of the first half
almost made me wish I had stayed in my warm car, listening to the fantastically
biased TVFM. Queued all half time for a hot dog, got told I couldn't take
the top of my coke bottle back to my seat, in case I through it at someone,
(if only the girl behind the counter had realised that she was my most
likely choice of victim for the lethal coke bottle top), and settled down
for the second half. What a thrashing. I had never been to Wycombe before this match. Tied up to holidays
in Cyprus, and illnesses when we played Wycombe, I made my way up the
A4010 for the first time. Went to the game last night with a close friend who's a Wycombe fan
(poor chap!) which meant sitting incognito in their stand and thus unable
to get over excited for fear of incurring too much wrath from the home
supprters. |
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