I must admit, my original plan for Sunday was to catch up with The Wandering Tractor but, stupidly, I had neglected to take note of the 3pm kick off time at Brentford Women, the game we had arranged to meet up at. With a commitment to getting home by 5pm, there was no way I was going to be able to watch that game and make it back to Oxfordshire in time. Sorry to say that meeting up with Dave will have to wait a little longer. I had to do some quick calculations and SatNav planning, before I realised I could make the 2pm kick-off at Reading Women v Selsey at Arbour Park and still easily make it home before 5pm. So, a quick check of the GPS to ensure I was going to make kick-off (it was estimating an arrival time of 13:57) and I changed course for Slough Town's ground.
This was an interesting game in itself. Both teams had come down from the National League last season, Reading effectively starting again and Selsey following relegation. However, life in the Southern Region League had not been easy for wither side. In fact, neither had yet managed a win. Selsey had drawn two games, both against Badshot Lea and Reading were yet to pick up a point, despite some really good cup performances. The gap between the bottom three, Reading, Selsey and Badshot Lea, at the bottom, was such that the relegation battle was already looking to be a three-way fight. Sholing, fourth from bottom, had a twelve point buffer. So, this one was definitely the epitome of the relegation 6-pointer.
Despite being the bottom club, Reading started the day with four games in hand on Badshot Lea and two in hand on Selsey, so their fate was still in their own hands.
This was an interesting game in itself. Both teams had come down from the National League last season, Reading effectively starting again and Selsey following relegation. However, life in the Southern Region League had not been easy for wither side. In fact, neither had yet managed a win. Selsey had drawn two games, both against Badshot Lea and Reading were yet to pick up a point, despite some really good cup performances. The gap between the bottom three, Reading, Selsey and Badshot Lea, at the bottom, was such that the relegation battle was already looking to be a three-way fight. Sholing, fourth from bottom, had a twelve point buffer. So, this one was definitely the epitome of the relegation 6-pointer.
Despite being the bottom club, Reading started the day with four games in hand on Badshot Lea and two in hand on Selsey, so their fate was still in their own hands.
Millie Delamont about to make one of a series of good stops On another bitterly cold afternoon, it was the home side who started the game in a very positive manner. Mia Bradley gave warning of her prowess down the right when she burst through to shoot narrowly wide with just 6 minutes on the clock. Selsey's Lucienne Selvester followed suit 3 minutes later, hitting the target but not worrying Cherry Preisner too much. However, the Reading stopper was soon to be concerned. Despite the home side having the better of the opening encounters, they were caught out when a long ball down the right allowed Isabelle Wheatley to get free. Her cross on the run looped over Preisner before going in off the far post. Definitely an element of luck in the goal, but they all count. 0-1
Undeterred, Reading tried to hit back immediately and it was, once again, the threat from Bradley up the right that almost paid dividends as her shot flashed across the face of Millie Delamont's goal. Reading were piling forward but still had to be aware of the ball over the top. Wheatley, on the right, and Ellie Jefkins, on the left, both looked to have enough pace to cause issues.
The visitor's keeper was certainly the busier though. Just on the halfway point Bradley once again provided a test for Delamont. this time the keeper was forced into a good parry, only for the ball to rebound out to Sajunae Turner, who couldn't keeper her strike down. Something of a let-off for Selsey. As we hit the half-hour mark both Lucy Bolitho and Sumayah Zayadi came close for Reading, the latter hitting the side-netting when she should really have tested Delamont again. Reading were creating plenty of chances. Surely the equaliser was on the cards?
It was, and it arrived in the 36th minute in spectacular fashion. Another Reading attack looked to have fizzled out when the ball was cleared into the centre. However, captain Lucy Bolitho stepped onto the bouncing ball before volleying it into Delamont's top left-hand corner from 25 yards. A superb strike. 1-1
Two minutes later a ball in from the Reading right found Bolitho again, this time around the penalty spot. However, the Royals captain proved to be far less accurate from 12 yards, lashing the ball into the car park.
Before Bradley saw yet another shot fly across the face of goal, the visitors had a big call for a penalty. I'll be honest, I was on the opposite side of the pitch, close the far end and didn't have a clear view of the incident at all. However, the appeals from the Selsey players and bench were very vociferous. All to no avail as the referee waved play on.
HT Reading 1 Selsey 1. Reading were well on top overall and certainly don't look like a team with zero points so far. Should Selsey have had a penalty? They thought so, but from my view on the opposite side there was no clear view.
Undeterred, Reading tried to hit back immediately and it was, once again, the threat from Bradley up the right that almost paid dividends as her shot flashed across the face of Millie Delamont's goal. Reading were piling forward but still had to be aware of the ball over the top. Wheatley, on the right, and Ellie Jefkins, on the left, both looked to have enough pace to cause issues.
The visitor's keeper was certainly the busier though. Just on the halfway point Bradley once again provided a test for Delamont. this time the keeper was forced into a good parry, only for the ball to rebound out to Sajunae Turner, who couldn't keeper her strike down. Something of a let-off for Selsey. As we hit the half-hour mark both Lucy Bolitho and Sumayah Zayadi came close for Reading, the latter hitting the side-netting when she should really have tested Delamont again. Reading were creating plenty of chances. Surely the equaliser was on the cards?
It was, and it arrived in the 36th minute in spectacular fashion. Another Reading attack looked to have fizzled out when the ball was cleared into the centre. However, captain Lucy Bolitho stepped onto the bouncing ball before volleying it into Delamont's top left-hand corner from 25 yards. A superb strike. 1-1
Two minutes later a ball in from the Reading right found Bolitho again, this time around the penalty spot. However, the Royals captain proved to be far less accurate from 12 yards, lashing the ball into the car park.
Before Bradley saw yet another shot fly across the face of goal, the visitors had a big call for a penalty. I'll be honest, I was on the opposite side of the pitch, close the far end and didn't have a clear view of the incident at all. However, the appeals from the Selsey players and bench were very vociferous. All to no avail as the referee waved play on.
HT Reading 1 Selsey 1. Reading were well on top overall and certainly don't look like a team with zero points so far. Should Selsey have had a penalty? They thought so, but from my view on the opposite side there was no clear view.
Bolitho's shot about to hit the Selsey net It was interesting to see the difference in the two sides as they came out for the second half. Reading were out early, went through a few warm-ups with their coach and then knocked the ball around in the centre to keep warm. Selsey came back out in ones and twos, looking less enthusiastic. However, when the game restarted, it was the visitors who got in the early first strike, Charlie Davey making sure that Preisner was alert after half-time.
Shortly after that normal service resumed on the Reading right with Mia Bradley once again causing problems for the visiting defenders. This time she worked her way down the wing before cutting the ball back across the 6-yard box. Zayadi was lurking, but the ball ran slightly behind her making her unable to get enough power on the shot to beat Delamont.
Just past the hour mark Reading got their noses in front and once again it was their captain Lucy Bolitho showing them the way. He low drive from the edge of the box wasn't all that powerful but it was just inside Delmont's right-hand post, leaving the keeper grasping at air. 2-1.
Credit to Selsey who, once again, tried to retaliate immediately. Jefkins, who had looked their most lively player throughout, drove in from the left before letting fly and narrowly missing the far corner.
Reading though could smell their first win of the season and they didn't look to be in a mood to let it slip. Lilly Brooke-Cousins came close when she tried her luck from way out, seeing her effort land on the roof of the net with Delamont beaten. Then, with 7 minutes left, Zuzanna Gajzler had the ball in the Selsey net only to see the assistant's flag had already been raised. Bradley was still tormenting the visitor defence and when Zayadi played her in with a defence-splitting ball, the winger struck goalward onto to see Delamont get a fingertip to the ball, deflecting it for a corner. Then, in the first minute of added time, Delamont made two very good stops, both from Gajzler, before Assia Fatri's effort was hooked off the line.
The third goal wouldn't come, but it didn't matter. The whistle bleew and the Royals had their first league win of the season.
FT Reading 2 Selsey 1. Reading take all three points for the first time this season. A deserved victory over the 90 minutes. Selsey played their part, but continue to look for a win themselves. The three points takes Reading out of the bottom two, leaving Badshot Lea rooted to the foot of the table below Selsey on goal difference.
Next up for Reading is a trip South to take on Sholing in the League Cup
Selsey are also in League Cup action as they welcome Division One North leaders Beaconsfield Town to the Seal Bay Resort Arena.
Reading: 1.Preisner, 3.Brooke-Cousins, 4.Turner, 5.Levy, 7.Gajzler, 9.Fatri, 11.Morl, 12.Bradley, 19.Airey, 20.Bolitho(c), 21.Dench. Subs: 8.Giles, 14.Zayadi
Selsey: 1.Delamont, 2.Evans, 3.Guymer, 5.G.Morris, 6.Halford, 7.Sanderson(c), 10.Jefkins, 11.Walford, 12.Selvester, 14.Wheatley, 17.K.Morris. 20.Campbell, 4.Davey, 9.Childs, 16.Flower
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: £7.00
Programme: N/A
Shortly after that normal service resumed on the Reading right with Mia Bradley once again causing problems for the visiting defenders. This time she worked her way down the wing before cutting the ball back across the 6-yard box. Zayadi was lurking, but the ball ran slightly behind her making her unable to get enough power on the shot to beat Delamont.
Just past the hour mark Reading got their noses in front and once again it was their captain Lucy Bolitho showing them the way. He low drive from the edge of the box wasn't all that powerful but it was just inside Delmont's right-hand post, leaving the keeper grasping at air. 2-1.
Credit to Selsey who, once again, tried to retaliate immediately. Jefkins, who had looked their most lively player throughout, drove in from the left before letting fly and narrowly missing the far corner.
Reading though could smell their first win of the season and they didn't look to be in a mood to let it slip. Lilly Brooke-Cousins came close when she tried her luck from way out, seeing her effort land on the roof of the net with Delamont beaten. Then, with 7 minutes left, Zuzanna Gajzler had the ball in the Selsey net only to see the assistant's flag had already been raised. Bradley was still tormenting the visitor defence and when Zayadi played her in with a defence-splitting ball, the winger struck goalward onto to see Delamont get a fingertip to the ball, deflecting it for a corner. Then, in the first minute of added time, Delamont made two very good stops, both from Gajzler, before Assia Fatri's effort was hooked off the line.
The third goal wouldn't come, but it didn't matter. The whistle bleew and the Royals had their first league win of the season.
FT Reading 2 Selsey 1. Reading take all three points for the first time this season. A deserved victory over the 90 minutes. Selsey played their part, but continue to look for a win themselves. The three points takes Reading out of the bottom two, leaving Badshot Lea rooted to the foot of the table below Selsey on goal difference.
Next up for Reading is a trip South to take on Sholing in the League Cup
Selsey are also in League Cup action as they welcome Division One North leaders Beaconsfield Town to the Seal Bay Resort Arena.
Reading: 1.Preisner, 3.Brooke-Cousins, 4.Turner, 5.Levy, 7.Gajzler, 9.Fatri, 11.Morl, 12.Bradley, 19.Airey, 20.Bolitho(c), 21.Dench. Subs: 8.Giles, 14.Zayadi
Selsey: 1.Delamont, 2.Evans, 3.Guymer, 5.G.Morris, 6.Halford, 7.Sanderson(c), 10.Jefkins, 11.Walford, 12.Selvester, 14.Wheatley, 17.K.Morris. 20.Campbell, 4.Davey, 9.Childs, 16.Flower
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: £7.00
Programme: N/A
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