Minute silence observed
This Sunday I headed back down to Reading for a return to the Rivermoor Stadium, a ground I last visited in 2017 for a Reading Senior Cup semi-final (Robins Squeeze Out Sumas). I may be wrong, but there didn't appear to be too many changes to the ground in the intervening years, not that it needed changing.
My chosen game was the Southern Region League Cup local derby between Tilehurst Panthers of Division One North and Premier League, Reading.
Plenty has been written about the problems at Reading, for both the men's and women's teams. Suffice to say that the women's team, who graced the WSL Premier League only two season's previously, were now effectively starting over in the Southern Region League after withdrawing from the WSL Championship in June this year. Tilehurst were promoted from the Thames Valley Counties League as champions last season, meaning that the clubs were five divisions apart before the summer.
Although Reading women now play home games at Slough's Arbour Park Stadium, this game must still be seen as a very local derby. The Rivermoor Stadium is less than a five mile drive across Reading from the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Panthers started life in the Southern Region League very well, remaining unbeaten in the first three league outings. However, they have slipped a little in recent weeks and the point at home to Caversham in a very feisty derby last weekend, was their first since late September. For Reading, Southern Region life has not been particularly easy as they rebuild their squad. Their first four league games have all ended in defeat. However, in cup games, it has been a different story, progressing the Round One of the FA Cup, before losing to Aylesford, and also making progress in the Beaks & Bucks Senior Cup after a penalty shootout defeat of Caversham United.
Thanks to referee Steven Monks for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off. Nice to have a chat and thanks for the follow (and for following Wandering Tractor).
My chosen game was the Southern Region League Cup local derby between Tilehurst Panthers of Division One North and Premier League, Reading.
Plenty has been written about the problems at Reading, for both the men's and women's teams. Suffice to say that the women's team, who graced the WSL Premier League only two season's previously, were now effectively starting over in the Southern Region League after withdrawing from the WSL Championship in June this year. Tilehurst were promoted from the Thames Valley Counties League as champions last season, meaning that the clubs were five divisions apart before the summer.
Although Reading women now play home games at Slough's Arbour Park Stadium, this game must still be seen as a very local derby. The Rivermoor Stadium is less than a five mile drive across Reading from the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Panthers started life in the Southern Region League very well, remaining unbeaten in the first three league outings. However, they have slipped a little in recent weeks and the point at home to Caversham in a very feisty derby last weekend, was their first since late September. For Reading, Southern Region life has not been particularly easy as they rebuild their squad. Their first four league games have all ended in defeat. However, in cup games, it has been a different story, progressing the Round One of the FA Cup, before losing to Aylesford, and also making progress in the Beaks & Bucks Senior Cup after a penalty shootout defeat of Caversham United.
Thanks to referee Steven Monks for sharing the team sheets prior to kick-off. Nice to have a chat and thanks for the follow (and for following Wandering Tractor).
Almost a second for Panthers
After a well observed minute's silence the match got under way with Reading kicking toward the car park end, and it was the visitor's who had the first opportunity when a hopeful lofted pass into the Tilehurst penalty area found Zuzanna Gajzler. However, Emily Bell was off her line quickly, forcing the Reading striker to put the ball wide of the mark.
Almost immediately after that chance, Tilehurst broke away at the other end and took the lead. Leah Why was just too pacy for the visitor's defence as she ran onto a through ball that split them wide open. The Panthers winger then calmly side-footed the ball past the advancing Cherry Preisner and in off the far post. 1-0.
Former Woodley striker Saj Turner tried to inspire Reading with a run from midfield, but her ball into the Tilehurst box was scrambled clear. Lucy Bolitho then came close on 18 minutes when her drive rattled the Tilehurst bar.
Reading had seen more of the ball since going behind, but there was an ever-present danger from Tilehurst, who were working very hard and looked dangerous on the break. The home side's cause was almost given a helping hand midway through the half when Reading, trying to play out from the back, lost the ball inside their own half with Preisner out of her ground. However, the goalkeeper did well to recover quickly and was able to hold onto the left-foot strike from Georgia Hayes. A minute later, Reading came very close to equalising when Mia Bradley's corner was nudged goalward by Lucy Bolitho. However, with the visiting support already starting the celebrate, the ball was somehow smuggled off the line by Tilehurst.
The home team then went close to doubling their lead when yet another ball in behind the Reading defence caused a problem. Malacia Charles took the ball around Preisner but, forced out wide, was unable to beat Lily Brooke-Cousins, who had got back onto the line to cover. On the half-hour mark, Panthers introduced their joint leading scorer Lydia Vettese to the action, making her return after a red card against Penn & Tylers Green in mid-October. After only a few minutes, it looked like a bad move as the striker, chasing another through ball, pulled up with what, at first, looked like it may have been a hamstring injury. However, after some treatment, she was able to limp to the side-line and, a minute later was able to come back on. Shortly afterwards it became abundantly clear the that the injury was most likely a little pull and certainly not as bad as it first looked. There was no sign of after effect as the striker latched onto another defence splitting pass before slotting the ball past Preisner into the far corner. An almost carbon-copy of the finish for the first goal. 2-0
There was little goalmouth action following the second goal. The Tilehurst work-rate did not drop and Reading were struggling to find that final ball that would give them a clear sight of goal. Keira Morl did get a good effort on target, but Emily Bell was well placed to make a good save.
HT Tilehurst Panthers 2 Reading 0. Despite having more possession, Reading find themselves two down at the break and could easily have been further behind. Panthers made much more of the ball when they had it and were very happy to exploit the spaces in behind the visitor's defence, with both goals coming from balls through defensive line, and both finished clinically.
Almost immediately after that chance, Tilehurst broke away at the other end and took the lead. Leah Why was just too pacy for the visitor's defence as she ran onto a through ball that split them wide open. The Panthers winger then calmly side-footed the ball past the advancing Cherry Preisner and in off the far post. 1-0.
Former Woodley striker Saj Turner tried to inspire Reading with a run from midfield, but her ball into the Tilehurst box was scrambled clear. Lucy Bolitho then came close on 18 minutes when her drive rattled the Tilehurst bar.
Reading had seen more of the ball since going behind, but there was an ever-present danger from Tilehurst, who were working very hard and looked dangerous on the break. The home side's cause was almost given a helping hand midway through the half when Reading, trying to play out from the back, lost the ball inside their own half with Preisner out of her ground. However, the goalkeeper did well to recover quickly and was able to hold onto the left-foot strike from Georgia Hayes. A minute later, Reading came very close to equalising when Mia Bradley's corner was nudged goalward by Lucy Bolitho. However, with the visiting support already starting the celebrate, the ball was somehow smuggled off the line by Tilehurst.
The home team then went close to doubling their lead when yet another ball in behind the Reading defence caused a problem. Malacia Charles took the ball around Preisner but, forced out wide, was unable to beat Lily Brooke-Cousins, who had got back onto the line to cover. On the half-hour mark, Panthers introduced their joint leading scorer Lydia Vettese to the action, making her return after a red card against Penn & Tylers Green in mid-October. After only a few minutes, it looked like a bad move as the striker, chasing another through ball, pulled up with what, at first, looked like it may have been a hamstring injury. However, after some treatment, she was able to limp to the side-line and, a minute later was able to come back on. Shortly afterwards it became abundantly clear the that the injury was most likely a little pull and certainly not as bad as it first looked. There was no sign of after effect as the striker latched onto another defence splitting pass before slotting the ball past Preisner into the far corner. An almost carbon-copy of the finish for the first goal. 2-0
There was little goalmouth action following the second goal. The Tilehurst work-rate did not drop and Reading were struggling to find that final ball that would give them a clear sight of goal. Keira Morl did get a good effort on target, but Emily Bell was well placed to make a good save.
HT Tilehurst Panthers 2 Reading 0. Despite having more possession, Reading find themselves two down at the break and could easily have been further behind. Panthers made much more of the ball when they had it and were very happy to exploit the spaces in behind the visitor's defence, with both goals coming from balls through defensive line, and both finished clinically.
Reading pushing hard
I'm not sure what was in Reading's half-time brew or if they had been given a blasting by the coaching staff, but whatever the reason, they came out all guns blazing in the second half. Tilehurst simply didn't know what had hit them in the opening minutes. Only just over a minute had been played since the restart when Brooke-Cousins found Mia Bradley with a ball in behind the defence. The Reading player made no mistake, drilling the ball past Bell. 2-1. Two minutes later Gajzler flashed a ball across the face of the home goal, a whisper away from a striker getting a touch. Panthers were rocking, but did manage to, at least, slow the flow of Reading attacks and show a couple of glimpses that they still posed a threat.
Georgia Hayes had a strike on target that Preisner picked off comfortably and Leah Why showed her pace again, driving sown the right and delivering a delightful cross. Unfortunately for Panthers, her fellow strikers could not get on the end of it.
That proved to be consequential a minute later when Reading levelled the game. The goal owed everything to the determination and perseverance of Lucy Bolitho. She chased down a bouncing through ball that she was very much second best to reach. However, her presence forced two defenders and the goalkeeper to get into a muddle, allowing the Reading player to get between then, slamming the ball into an unguarded net. 2-2
Reading were very much on the up now. They came close to taking the lead on 68 minutes when Gajzler lobbed Bell only for Jacqueline Asamoah to get back brilliantly to acrobatically hook the ball off the line.
Having lost a two-goal lead against higher-ranked opposition, many teams may well have caved in at this point, but Tilehurst are made of stronger stuff and they still had the firepower to cause Reading problems. In fact it was Panthers who generated the next two chances. First off, Why drove down the right again, firing over a cross that Preisner could only parry into the path of Vettese. However, the striker was slightly off balance, screwing the effort wide of the mark. Shortly afterwards, Vettese held up a long ball really well, shielding the ball before laying it into the path of the overlapping Why who struck a low effort that had Preisner diving full length as it flashed past the upright.
As we entered the final ten minutes, Why and Vettese once more hooked up, but again the final effort was just off target from Vettese. Then former Goat, Sumaya Zayadi, on as a substitute for Reading, got a flick on to put Mia Bradley n on the left. Zayadi continued her run into the box and was a matter of inches from getting on the end of Bradley's drive cross. Then, to add to the tension of what had been a cracking cup tie, Reading thought they had won it in the final minute. Brooke-Cousins sent over a cross into a dangerous area where it hit a Tilehurst defender and deflected into the net. However, the linesman had his flag up for offside against Brooke-Cousins before she played the ball in. After some consultation between the referee and assistant, the goal was chalked off, much to the displeasure of the travelling support.
We were heading for a penalty shootout.
FT Tilehurst Panthers 2 Reading 2. A really entertaining cup tie between two fully committed teams. Great credit to Reading for recovering from two goals behind, but also kudos to Tilehurst for showing the determination not to crumble after Reading equalised.
Over to the lottery of the penalty shootout:
Georgia Hayes had a strike on target that Preisner picked off comfortably and Leah Why showed her pace again, driving sown the right and delivering a delightful cross. Unfortunately for Panthers, her fellow strikers could not get on the end of it.
That proved to be consequential a minute later when Reading levelled the game. The goal owed everything to the determination and perseverance of Lucy Bolitho. She chased down a bouncing through ball that she was very much second best to reach. However, her presence forced two defenders and the goalkeeper to get into a muddle, allowing the Reading player to get between then, slamming the ball into an unguarded net. 2-2
Reading were very much on the up now. They came close to taking the lead on 68 minutes when Gajzler lobbed Bell only for Jacqueline Asamoah to get back brilliantly to acrobatically hook the ball off the line.
Having lost a two-goal lead against higher-ranked opposition, many teams may well have caved in at this point, but Tilehurst are made of stronger stuff and they still had the firepower to cause Reading problems. In fact it was Panthers who generated the next two chances. First off, Why drove down the right again, firing over a cross that Preisner could only parry into the path of Vettese. However, the striker was slightly off balance, screwing the effort wide of the mark. Shortly afterwards, Vettese held up a long ball really well, shielding the ball before laying it into the path of the overlapping Why who struck a low effort that had Preisner diving full length as it flashed past the upright.
As we entered the final ten minutes, Why and Vettese once more hooked up, but again the final effort was just off target from Vettese. Then former Goat, Sumaya Zayadi, on as a substitute for Reading, got a flick on to put Mia Bradley n on the left. Zayadi continued her run into the box and was a matter of inches from getting on the end of Bradley's drive cross. Then, to add to the tension of what had been a cracking cup tie, Reading thought they had won it in the final minute. Brooke-Cousins sent over a cross into a dangerous area where it hit a Tilehurst defender and deflected into the net. However, the linesman had his flag up for offside against Brooke-Cousins before she played the ball in. After some consultation between the referee and assistant, the goal was chalked off, much to the displeasure of the travelling support.
We were heading for a penalty shootout.
FT Tilehurst Panthers 2 Reading 2. A really entertaining cup tie between two fully committed teams. Great credit to Reading for recovering from two goals behind, but also kudos to Tilehurst for showing the determination not to crumble after Reading equalised.
Over to the lottery of the penalty shootout:
| Mollie Dench | 0 | 1 | ||||||
| Jacqueline Asamoah | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Lucy Bolitho | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| Georgia Hayes | X | 1 | 2 | Saved by Cherry Preisner | ||||
| Assia Fatri | 1 | 3 | ||||||
| Leah Why | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins | 2 | 4 | ||||||
| Deanna Cane | 3 | 4 | ||||||
| Zuzanna Gajzler | 3 | 5 | ||||||
In a lot of ways, it was a shame that there had to be a loser this evening. As a neutral, I was impressed by the grit shown by both teams. If you want to catch either team in action, you have the opportunity this coming Sunday.
Tilehurst at back at home in the league as they welcome third-placed Abingdon United Development.
Reading, meanwhile, make the journey North to Abingdon as they visit The Northcourt where they face National League Division One South-West side, Abingdon United, in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.
Tilehurst Panthers: 1.Bell, 34.Gong, 16.Wraight, 7.Why, 11.Hunt. 12.Hand, 14.Hayes, 20.Asamoah, 25.Peters, 23.Charles, 10.Langham(c). Subs: 4.Vetesse, 9.Cane
Reading: 1.Preisner, 2.Giles, 5.Herbert, 3.Brooke-Cousins, 16.Hoesli-Atkins(c), 11.Morl, 12.Bradley, 20.Turner, 7.Gajzler, 17.Bolitho, 18.Simmons. Subs: 6.Less, 21.Dench, 19.Robinson, 14.Zayadi, 9.Fatri
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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