This Monday evening Reading U23s hosted Burnley U23s. Being played out of the Select Car Leasing Stadium, in a Premier league two fixture. The young Royals sitting bottom of the division ahead of play. Winless in their last eight matches, Reading have been on tragic form. Including a seven nil hammering away to Nottingham Forrest.
Reading had the opening opportunity on two minutes, before the visitors dominated play in the centre of their half. A second chance came on fourteen minutes as a through ball found its way over the top. However, poor timing on the shot allowed danger to be cleared. Taking the lead against the run of play, the host scored on twenty-four minutes. Scoring with a low effort, past the diving keeper. Shot taken powerfully from close range. Looking for an equaliser Burnley found space by the corner flag. Short passing allowed them a way into the box, just missing the post. Staying in high tempo pinged passes challenged home defenders. Who looked unable to withstand such pressure, giving away a handful of free kicks and throw ins. As we approached half time the clarets kept the ball. Managing to prevent their opponents getting a touch. Breaking away at speed the visitors levelled the score on forty-three minutes. A pass across the box initially put the forward off, before he controlled the ball for a low shot. Flying into the corner of the net.
When play resumed it was the Lancashire club who had the first shot. Going wide. Up the other end, reading was awarded a penalty on the fifty fourth minutes. Converting from the spot. In the hunt of a second goal to even the game Burnley pressed high. Long balls coming to the host rescue, as they averted issues. A free kick just outside of the block was sent over the bar by Burnley moments later. A looped effort on fifty-nine minutes came close to giving the guest a second. Rolling out as players looked on. Following this up, was a clever run on sixty-four minutes. Which saw Reading through. Shooting from close range at the keeper, after jumping past the clarets full back. With seven minutes to go Reading looked to seal the win. Making their way into the box, a shot came off the post. As the clock ticked down the final seconds of normal time, four minutes were added. Just not enough for Burnley to snatch a point from Berkshire.
In conclusion reading were very fortunate winners. Their place at the bottom of the league is justified, regardless of today’s final score. Burnley had done by. Should be returning to the north with a point, if not three.
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