Published: Friday, 13th November, 2009 9:00am

Church prays for more Mad Stad goals

by Anthony Smith

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Off the mark: Simon Church grabbed his first goal at the Madejski Stadium last weekend.

SIMON Church is praying for more goalscoring opportunities after finally breaking his duck at the Madejski Stadium.

The Wales striker's scruffy goal in the weekend's 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town was his first at home in seven attempts.

The 20-year-old has netted at Peterborough United and Preston North End already this season but he could not get off the mark in Berkshire.

And he admitted: "It was my first ever goal at the Madejski and I was thinking before the game that I needed to score.

"I was happy with that one. It's good getting a lot more chances now.

"At the start of the season I was complaining about not getting any, now everyone is complaining at me because I'm not scoring enough."

Church will score better goals in his blossoming career but he gratefully accepted the one he got on Saturday when he turned in Gylfi Sigurdsson's shot to earn Royals a point.

"I'm happy with that one," he added. "It's the type of goal that you love. I needed it because of the spell I have been on. I didn't care how it came, it just hit me on the knee and it was the bit of luck I needed.

"It is a great feeling to score in front of your own fans. I was always taught that if the ball goes over your head you follow in at the keeper.

"Luckily for me Gylfi knocked it back and it just hit me. It was the type of goal I need to take and enjoy scoring."

Church had housemate Sigurdsson to thank for setting up his goal but their relationship off the field is heading in a different direction.

"I am kicking him out," Church revealed. "It's time for him to grow up and move on. He's been a good housemate, but you need your own space.

"I don't want to start a war. He can be arrogant with the cleaning, but he's a top man. He's a good cook but he leaves all the plates out. I have to keep tidying up."

Church is currently on international duty with Wales and is expected to play for the first-team this weekend in a friendly against Scotland before travelling to Bosnia next week with the Under 21s.

"It's another long international break," he admitted. "It's the highest level and I can't complain.

"It's a chance for me to show again what I can do on the biggest stage so I will take it as it comes."

Meanwhile, Church was one of three players shortlisted for the Welsh Young Player of the Year award along with West Ham's Jack Collison and Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey.

In addition to Church, Royals have a number of players on international duty over the coming week.

They are: Darren O'Dea (Republic of Ireland), Ryan Bertrand and Alex McCarthy (England U21s), Brynjar Gunnarsson (Iceland), Adam Federici (Australia), Marek Matejovsky (Czech republic), Jem Karacan (Turkey U21s), Mikkel Andersen (Denmark U21s), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland U21s) and Jake Taylor (Wales U19s).