Season Opener

With the start of a new season on the horizon, Reading welcomed some new recruits to their ranks.
The team bonded well and from the start defended well, holding their shape in the face of the Spencer attack.
Spencer, playing in their usual style of crash balls down the line, finally got a break and after a ricochet of tackles and attempted shots, they fumbled the ball into the goal to take the lead.
Half time came and reading, after a few tactical changes, began to see more of the ball going forward. A neat move down the left hand flank saw Toby Heywood pivot on a six pence and slide the ball under the keeper to the back post where Chris Dench was waiting to tap in his first goal for a while. Sadly he was denied by the leg of the Spencer defender, and after much confusion from the umpires signalling a penalty stroke was awarded. Toby followed up his build up play with a cool conversion to level the score.
Having taken control of the game, reading were then reduced to 10 men when a rash challenge from left back Craig Nevard saw him yellow carded and a penalty corner awarded.
Reading held out and with only 10 men on the pitch, stole the ball high up the pitch for Toby Heywood to calmly concert his second of the match.
Back to full strength, Reading calmed the storm and held on to win their opening match.