Match Report vs Southampton
READING 1 SOUTHAMPTON 0
A promising performance, against a ridiculously shite Southampton reserve team, but very satisfying. Reading were by far the better team without really trying too hard, and although the game became pretty uninteresting by the end I still went home a very happy chappy.
The first half was definately Reading's best half, although we looked so comfortable throughout. Hammond started off in goal and looked pretty safe from the start claiming crosses confidently which is far more than could be said for Peasant down the other end. Tootie Frootie didn't last out too long, taking in an early collision and running (yep, running!) off to be replaced by the more than capable Thorp. It was a bit of a head injury but didn't look too bad. Skippy was solid is ever, and Macca is just a wall. So the defence was well sturdy except for an odd slip here or there. Swales was slightly questionable with non-existant marking but his little runs forward were nice.
Amazingly Southampton looked like they might be first to score after swapping end to leave Hammond blinded by the sun. He didn't mind and was quick to scramble a bundle in the area away. A very determined Lambert, legging it around the left wing like mad, almost put the R's ahead after about 30 minutes. A ball over from the right met him perfectly, he ran onto it and despite looking like he was going to topple over hit a nice curvey shot into the left side netting. Close.
Even more amazing was Meaker putting the Royals into the lead not long afterwards. I hadn't even noticed he was playing. After spending half an hour lurking on the right and avoiding the ball with amazing skill he picked the ball up ran forward a bit and hit it right to left. Now, some people, Peasant probably included, were expecting a cross. In fact I think Meaker was expecting a cross over to Roach advancing on the left. But the ball left his boot and swung into the left of the net. 1-0 to the R's!
Then Southampton looked dangerous. Well, maybe not dangerous, but they tried a shot or two, one just left of the post. But Hammond looked more than up to it, and it was mostly long distance with nothing getting past Macca in the centre.
Reading were just knocking it around. Some of it was a bit too short but overall it was great just to see the ball on the crowd - where Roach and Glasgow wanted it. Roach was legging it around like mad and getting quite worn out towards the end but he did look good - just not like scoring.
Half time saw Primus and Hodges, the new recruits from Barnet, signing their contracts over the opposite side of the pitch with Mr.Mad, and the comeback of Daruisz into the defence. Mautone replaced Hammond in goal, and then everything carried on as it had left off. Southampton doing very little and Reading just knocking it around - but on the floor!
After the lack of midfield last season I felt it did look quite promising. Houghton is good despite being a bit large - suprisingly mobile. And Freeman looks a good prospect. Dariusz was once again commanding. Lots of good options in defence it seems. Once again our only problem seemed to be up front. It was hard to see us scoring even with Beasant dropping the ball so pathetically at the feet of Freeman. Freeman was so suprised that he forgot to shot properly and it went well wide of the left post. But were pretty few goal chances.
You could tell this was a friendly. And the last ten minutes were completely uneventful. Still it was enough to get rid of some of those pre-season fears I'd been having. We seem to have two excellent keepers at last for the first season since... err.... since forever, and a decent enough defence. All we need now is our new Barnet striker dude to be God and we're away.
Graham