READING City lost 3-0 at home to Windsor on Saturday after having to field a much-changed side for their Premier Division clash.

Having been forced to slash their playing budget, City have seen several of their better players leave, with the latest departures including Harry and Alf Grant, Mitchell Parker and Rob Gerrard.

Defender Gerrard has joined Basingstoke Town, where striker Parker has been training.

The Grants have been linked with Thames Valley Premier League club Westwood United, as have Jack Powell and keeper Eddie Cavanagh with North Leigh United, although the latter played against Windsor.

Andy Ingram opened the scoring for the visitors after 13 minutes with Dan Roberts doubling the lead on 20 minutes.

City, fielding several of the club’s youngsters, worked hard to get back in the game, but without succcess and fell further behind when substitute Eddie Lazarczuk unluckily turned the ball into his own net.

Manager Robbie Creech commented: “It took us a while to get to grips with Windsor, but when we did, I felt we dominated possession for most of the second half. We just couldn’t make the breakthrough we needed to change the course of the game.”

This Saturday, City, who are 10th in the table, visit eighth-placed Flackwell Heath, bossed by their former player-manager Marcus Richardson.

The two sides met twice in October, with City losing 3-1 in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup before winning 1-0 in the Bluefin Sports Hellenic League Cup.

They then host the fourth club, Royal Wootton Bassett, in the league on Monday (7.45pm).

WOODLEY United picked up a first Division One East success of the season as they won 2-0 at Chalvey Sports on Saturday.

Pablo Fernandez put the Kestrels in front on 24 minutes, with Leon Mannion doubling the advantage shortly afterwards before his side held on for the clean sheet and victory.

United had less luck on Monday, falling to a 2-1 home defeat to AFC Aldermaston in the Division One Subsidiary Cup.

Goals from Jamel Forde-Small and Lemar Maycock put the Atom Men in control, with Fernandez’s injury-time strike merely a consolation for the hosts.

DIVISION One East leaders AFC Aldermaston slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Holyport on Saturday.

Maycock bagged a brace for the visitors, but with Jay Welch sent off, they slipped to their third defeat of the season.

For ‘Port, Steve Deverall bagged a brace with the other goal coming from Jonny Feaver. They, too, had a man sent off, with substitute George Adams receiving his marching orders.

AFC Aldermaston host Woodley United in the Subsidiary Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm).