Reading Town boss seeks Vase response

James Walker-Roberts • Published 27 Jan 2012 08:30 Comments 1 Comment

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Bartley hopes his players have learned from their FA Vase experience

MANAGER Mark Bartley wants his Reading Town side to learn from their 3-2 FA Vase defeat to Larkhall Athletic as they try to push on for a top six finish in the Hellenic Premier Division.

The enthralling last 32 clash at Scours Lane hinged on a penalty in the second half that Town's Graham Lewis missed with the score locked at 1-1.

Larkhall took full advantage of the saved spot-kick as Nat Auckland scored his second goal to make it 2-1 and then Nick Hudson headed past Oneal Garnes for the visitors' third.

Phillip John reduced the deficit from the penalty spot but despite their best efforts, Town were unable to level the match in the final 10 minutes.

Bartley said afterwards that he felt his side deserved at least a draw from the encounter and hopes the experience can be a motivating factor heading into the second half of the season.

"I was disappointed with the result, I didn't think they were massively better than us, over the 90 minutes we at least deserved another shot at it, but that's football. If you don't take your chances then you nearly always get stung and that happened today," he said.

"You can't blame people for missing penalties though, it happens in the Premier League and it happens everywhere, but it was at a vital time that if we got in front then maybe it would have been different.

"The key thing is we have to learn from these experiences, if you get beat and you learn nothing then it means nothing, if it makes you hate that feeling and it makes you want to lose even less then there is a small positive to come out of it."

Town welcomed Alex Salmon back in the centre of defence for the clash against the Western Football League Premier Division champions and were able to call on forwards Michael Bartley and Lewis.

Although they started brightly, Reading fell behind inside 15 minutes when Luke Scott crossed from the left for Auckland to tap in at the far post.

Garnes almost gifted Larkhall a second goal when he spilt two consecutive crosses but he managed to gather at the third attempt.

Lewis fired a volley over the bar at the other end while the lively Jamie Lyons curled an effort the wrong side of Garnes' post after a swift counter-attack.

Just as it looked like Larkhall would take the lead into half-time, Town broke down the right and the ball found Michael Bartley on the edge of the box, who fired a superb low shot into the corner.

The goal came at the perfect time for Reading as they managed to carry their momentum into the second period.

But they were indebted to Garnes for saving a one-on-one from Lyons before Lewis won a penalty on the hour mark.

Unfortunately for Town, the forward saw his effort saved by the goalkeeper and Larkhall managed to clear their lines.

They then regained the lead when Auckland smashed in a superb volley after Garnes failed to clear a cross properly.

A third goal from Hudson with 15 minutes remaining put Larkhall in command and although John reduced the deficit from the Town, it was not to be for the hosts.

They will look to pick themselves up for a clash against high-flying Shortwood United at Scours Lane on Saturday (3pm ko).

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Jamie
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Jan 30, 21:07
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