Published: Tuesday, 2nd September, 2008 12:00
Barnes: "We'll be ready for our must-win game'
By Ben Steel
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READING skipper David Barnes has urged his side to focus on producing a top-drawer performance in their final game of the season – even if it is not enough to save them from relegation.
The men from Sonning Lane are hot favourites to join Falkland in Division Two West of the Home Counties Premier League next season after suffering an agonising two-wicket defeat to near-neighbours Henley on Saturday.
That result leaves Reading 12 points adrift of Berkshire rivals Slough with just a visit to title-chasing Tring Park to come.
And to make matters worse, Bobby Sher’s men face already-relegated Falkland in their final game.
But Barnes is just concerned that his side do their job in Saturday’s visit to Hertfordshire to give themselves the best chance of survival.
He said: “It’s a must-win game for us and with the way we have played all season, I suppose it was inevitable that it was going to come down to this.
“But what we have to do now is focus on our game, not worry about what happens elsewhere and hope it will be enough.
“Obviously it would be handy if Falkland can do us a favour, but we can’t afford to think about that, we just have to do our job.”
Barnes realises that his side will have to be at the very top of their game if they are to pick up just their second win of the season in Hertfordshire.
Park are still right in the title fight, lying in third spot just six points behind leaders High Wycombe.
And the captain admits: “Obviously it’s going to be a really tough game this weekend – both sides have got everything to play for.
“But we have been playing a lot better in recent weeks and we are also in a situation that is not a surprise to us.
“As I’ve said, it seemed inevitable that it would go down to the last game, and I think we’ll be more than ready for it.”
Barnes will return for this weekend’s game after missing the derby game with Henley, though overseas player Heinrich Le Roux will not be available as he has already returned to South Africa.
Reading’s hopes of a vital victory in Saturday’s clash with Henley seemed to have evaporated before the afternoon had even got going.
Visitors’ paceman David Griffiths took the first seven wickets to fall as the men from Sonning Lane slumped to a miserable 92-7.
But a mixture of youth and experience helped launch a terrific fightback that nearly got the hosts the runs they needed to secure an unlikely win.
Club stalwart Tom Fray and 16-year-old Ross Mcadam came together and put on a fighting stand of 86 for the eighth wicket to drag their side back into the game.
Fray eventually fell to Berkshire and Henley skipper Bjorn Mordt for 80, but Macadam saw the job through and ensured his side batted out their overs.
Reading eventually posted 202-9, with Mcadam undefeated on 54 – his maiden half century at this level.
And a somewhat depleted Reading bowling attack clearly took heart from their late order revival, tearing into Henley’s batting line-up.
Gareth Edwards (2-52) and Le Roux (2-58) helped reduce Henley to 98-5.
But Mordt was still there and along with fellow Berkshire man Paul Carter got his side up to 154-6.
But spinner David Hartley (4-51) changed things around once again, claiming three quick wickets – including two in two balls –to leave the visitors eight wickets down and still 17 runs shy of their target.
But David Allaway (14no) and Griffiths (9no) negotiated the nervous final stages to see their side home, and leave Reading needing to produce their best performance of the campaign this weekend to save themselves.
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