Published: Wednesday, 3rd September, 2008 09:00
Town too hot for Heath after Pegasus stalemate
By By Seamus Hayes
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Reading Town’s poor start to their first season in the Premier Division of the FTL Futbol Hellenic League continued as they could only manage a 1-1 draw at Pegasus Juniors on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday night’s home agame against Flackwell Heath, which Town won 2-0, club secretary Richard Grey said: “We have now played five games and have won only once and I can safely say that not one of the sides we have faced so far have been better than us.
All of the sides are new to us and we are taking a little while to adjust but this was two points thrown away”.
Town created three clear cut chances during the first half but failed to take any of them as the first 45 minutes ended scoreless.
The first fell to Graham Lewis who failed to convert at the far post following excellent work from Ray Spence.
James Clark headed over from six yards with the goal at his mercy while Mike Hancock also saw his shot fly high over the crossbar when well placed.
And Pegasus made the visitors pay for their generosity on 55 minutes when Town’s early season defensive shortcomings from set pieces again showed itself as they failed to clear a corner effectively allowing Chris Mortlock a simple tap-in.
Town continued to pound the Pegasus defence and finally made the breakthrough with 10 minutes remaining when Scott Rees linked with Ian Brooks before Rees smashed the ball home from 12 yards.
And the visitors thought they had snatched a deserved three points on 86 minutes when Ross Herridge found the net only for his effort to be ruled out as one of his team-mates was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
But it was a different story on Tuesday evening as Town entertained local rivals Flackwell Heath and stormed to their second win of the campaign.
Ray Spence was missing through suspension which allowed Ross Herridge his first start of the season while Sam Cripps was brought into the squad.
And the home side made a perfect start after only two minutes when Will Bratt played in a teasing cross which Herridge placed home from eight yards.
Flackwell responded and were unlucky not to equalise on two occasions when efforts rebounded off the crossbar.
Town rode their luck and could have increased their lead on the half hour when James Clark played the ball into the path of Graham Lewis who held off his man before striking a right foot shot which clipped the crossbar from 20 yards.
Town started the second half brightly and they felt aggrieved on 56 minutes when denied a clear cut penalty as Lewis was upended from behind.
But Town did not let this effect them and on 68 minutes Kieron Thorne picked out Herridge who turned his marker before laying the ball off to Lewis who chipped it expertly over the advancing keeper from the edge of the box.
A delighted Town assistant manager Glenn Goudie commented: “Flackwell are a very good side and we kept their very strong forward line down to a couple of shots.
“Man of the match was Sam Flegg for his bravery and organisation of our defence and our win was based on solid defending and a little bit of quality in the final third.”
Town take a break from league action on Saturday when they entertain Pewsey Vale in the first qualifying round of the F.A Vase and they are overwhelming favourites to advance as Vale are currently languishing in bottom place in Division 1 West.
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