L1A: Eastcote 2 Reading 3

What a start to the season.  Reading travelled to Eastcote on Saturday with the knowledge that in last years trip Reading ended on the wrong side of an 8-1 scoreline.  This year, with a good influx of new players, Reading started brightly when Holly Rabys good run ended with her firing the ball from the left into the circle for Cyd Hartland to deflect inside the far post in the 11th minute.  Eastcote equalised when a short corner strike was deflected past the keeper by a Reading defender in the 23rd minute.  In the last minute of the half, Eastcote look the lead following some poor defending from the visitors.  Initially a long ball was allowed to get through Readings midfield and although goalie Sarah Gowers came out to the edge of the circle, the ball found its way into the circle and another deflection allowed Eastcote to score.  Reading did not deserve to be behind and they worked hard in the second half to restore their advantage.  Good play from the forwards saw Eastcote denied time & space to play the ball and the work rate of all the squad was excellent.  In the 46th minute Reading made a tackle deep in their half and a swift ball down the right followed by some patient build up play between Chiara Clarke and Nicky West saw Clarke fire the ball into the circle where Tessa Lewinton’s first time strike saw the ball fly over the goalie and into the net.  Within a minute Reading regained the lead from an almost identical move involving the same players and Lewintons finish was again clinical.  Reading created further chances to shoot especially down the left through Mel Lennard but were indebted to Helen Marsden in goal for the second half for preventing Eastcote scoring a third goal.  A good win and Reading look forward to entertaining Havant on Saturday at South Reading Leisure Centre, push back 1.30pm.  Man of the
match was Clarke.

On Sunday Reading 1a’s played a young Oxford University side in a friendly
and played out a good 3-3 draw.  Reading were again guilty of some mistakes in defence which gifted the University side a couple of goals.  However, with a changed side, Reading played well and scored 3 well taken goals. In the first half Sinead French picked up a University hit out following a well set Reading press, and as she advanced into the circle she unleashed an unstoppable shot.  Before half time Katharine Pike scored a short corner strike to see Reading enter the half time break 3-2 down.  At the start of the 2nd half, Lewinton put pressure on the University defence and stole possession, entered the circle and slotted the ball past the keeper.  The remainder of the 2nd half was fairly open as the Reading side tired.