Reading Town reap rewards from away days
Sportsdesk • Published 3 Nov 2011 09:30
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READING Town stretched their unbeaten away run in the Hellenic Premier Division to seven matches with victories over Wokingham & Emmbrook and Shrivenham.
While their home form has been indifferent as of late, the last four games on the road have seen Reading pick up maximum points and score 13 goals in the process.
On Saturday, Town fought back from a goal down to beat local rivals Wokingham 2-1, with Ray Spence and Marcus Richardson both on target.
Satsumas started the brighter of the two teams and came close to taking the lead when Dean Thomas' shot was well saved by Town goalkeeper Garry Aulsberry.
Minutes later, the hosts went ahead when Luke Lee broke free and crossed for Cooper-Clark to finish from close range.
Reading almost equalised when Spence saw a shot cleared by Ashley Mitchell but Wokingham did well to limit the Town dangerman to a few threatening runs.
Sam Duffelen and Cooper-Clark both came close to extending Wokingham's lead after the break but the former's shot was saved and ex-Ascot United forward Cooper-Clark shot wide.
Spence then showed his class when he raced on to a through ball and beat Stuart Harris to equalise for the visitors.
Town took the lead for the first time in the 78th minute through a Marcus Richardson header and held on for the three points despite a few nervy moments late on.
On Tuesday evening, Town got off to a flying start at Shrivenham, scoring three times in the first 30 minutes.
Skipper Danny Lingwood headed the visitors into a fourth-minute lead and Dave Stevens then crossed for Michael Bartley to make it 2-0.
Stevens swung in a corner for Ray Spence to convert after 30 minutes and it took Shrivenham until midway through the second half to pull a goal back.
Town came close to extending their lead but were unable to find the net again in a game that saw them pick up five bookings.
Up next for Reading is a trip to Slimbridge on Saturday (3pm ko) before they travel to local rivals Binfield on Monday in the third round of the Floodlit Cup (7.45pm ko).
Meanwhile, Combined Counties Premier side Windsor FC have made a seven-day approach for Reading's Chris Hatton.
The midfielder has been in impressive form for Town this season and manager Mark Bartley hopes to keep hold of him.
"We've got a very good group of young players here and we're heading in the right direction," he said.
"I think that Windsor would be a sideways step for him and I've spoken to Chris and hope he will stay."
Elsewhere, John Donegan's thirty-minute hat-trick ensured safe passage for Woodley Town against Trowbridge Town in the Hellenic Challenge Cup.
Woodley's long trip to Wiltshire proved fruitful as they returned with a 3-2 victory to set up a home tie with Newbury in the next round.
Woodley travel to Division One East leaders Rayners Lane this Saturday (3pm ko), hoping to regain a bit of their early season form.
Highmoor Ibis were involved in an eight-goal thriller at Lambourn Sports in the Hellenic Challenge Cup but lost on penalties after equalising twice in the final minutes of the game.
Highmoor entertain Finchampstead on Saturday in Division One East (3pm ko).
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