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Match Report of Mens Indoor Semi

Match Report of Mens Indoor Semi

Liz Spencer26 Jan 2015 - 13:27
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Andy Watts "Very Proud"

Dave Wright reports from Wembley Arena

Reading gave their best indoor performance of the season, but it was still not good enough to prevent them losing 7-5 to all-conquering East Grinstead in their National 5s semi-final.

The Sussex side are a bit special on the boards, as they again showed at Wembley Arena on Sunday. They went on to beat Canterbury 6-5 in the final to win the competition for the seventh year in succession.

Reading matched them on goal chances, but not in finishing.
Blues were forced to make a late switch in goal, with Gary Noble taking over from Tommy Alexander.
Noble was beaten twice in the fifth minute and again in the 14th, but it was only 3-0 for 35 seconds with Tom Carson pulling one back.

Reading then forced three short corners in succession, and from the third Rick Mantell made the half-time score 3-2.
Blues started the second half well and Chris Newman twice went close to equalising, but EG broke quickly, drew Noble out of his goal and it was 4-2.

Twenty two seconds later Richard Springham made it 4-3 to bring his side back in the game. Not for long, however, as the defending champions quickly regained a two-goal advantage.

Trailing 6-3, Blues took off Noble with Dan Shingles taking the role of a kicking back.

Another successful Mantell penalty corner reduced Reading's deficit, but once again EG responded by scoring their seventh.
Carson netted his second and his side's fifth with a little over a minute left.

The East Grinstead goals came from Niall Scott (5mins, 36), David Condon (5), ex-Reading star Mark Pearn (14 and 23), Simon Faulkner (25) and Chris Griffiths (29mins),

After the game, Reading head coach Andy Watts said he was "very proud" of his team's performance, adding: "Great effort, but sadly not quite enough." He also thanked the fans for their support.

They included a coach-load from Bloxham School in Oxfordshire, where Blues' indoor player Steve Campbell works.

Reading's Wembey squad was: Gary Noble, Richard Springham, Rick Mantell, Dan Shingles, Chris Newman, Will Carter-Keall, Jack Clee, Jonty Clarke, Tom Carson, Steve Campbell, Tim Atkins, Jack Whelan.

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