30.03.10 - Reading 3’s Condemned to Relegation By Foresters
A storming fight back by the Foresters after falling behind to an early
goal condemned Reading 3s to relegation and elevated the Foresters to second place in the League; the result also set up a magnificent
League finale at Southgate in two weeks time.
Reading took the lead through a well taken short corner, flicked home
after just one minute (0 – 1). The Foresters had to ride the Reading storm for the next few minutes but succeeded in breaking free and forcing a short corner which was well saved on 12 minutes. However, there was no mistake just five minutes later when Ali Gunn converted a Foresters short corner to equalise (1 – 1).
Three minutes later, Ali Gunn broke his own League goal scoring record for the Foresters as he drove home on 20 minutes to give the Foresters an important lead (2 – 1). A minute later, the Foresters failed to convert another short corner. By this time the Foresters were enjoying the better of the possession and Sam Spencer was unlucky to see a good effort go just wide on 26 minutes. Reading were far from a spent force and won a short corner for themselves on 28 minutes which they failed to capitalise on.
Reading started the second half the better but failed to draw blood
from a short corner on 37 minutes which was blazed high over the
Foresters bar. The Foresters then began to reassert themselves and Tom Wilson was unlucky to go wide after a brilliant run on 41 minutes.
Matt Lewis then nearly scored the goal of the season on 44 minutes as he somehow managed to wriggle his was through a phalanx of Reading players, beat the visiting keeper and then watch as his shot went agonizingly wide of the gaping Reading goal.
It took Reading another 9 minutes to threaten the Foresters goal, again
through a short corner but Tim Murphy was equal to the task as he saved well on 53 minutes.
The match was decided on the hour as Matt Lewis flicked another short corner into the Reading net (3 – 1). Reading then created their best chance from open play as a result of some confusion in the Foresters defence, but somehow the Foresters rearguard did enough to distract the Reading striker who dragged his shot wide of an empty net.
With just three minutes left to play, Ali Gunn then put Pat Fisher
through on goal and the Loughts player made no mistake for his 10th
Foresters League goal of the season.
With just one League game to go, there is still all to play for!
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