On a warm summers afternoon Simon Johnson’s Cityzens continued their Emirates FA Cup Adventure at a sun-drenched Rivermoor. The magic of the cup set up a first-time meeting between ourselves and Nailsea & Tickenham who had achieved a ‘giant-killing’ in the Extra Preliminary Round by defeating Cinderford Town and if it weren’t for a second half goal from Ellis Cowd they would have achieved another.

The game started brightly with both sides vying to secure their place in Monday’s First Round Qualifying Draw but it was Nailsea & Tickenham who found the opening goal via Seb Scott as we approached the half hour mark.

Minutes later Mckoy Palmer whose return to RG30 was announced only hours earlier, almost scored on his second debut for the Cityzens but narrowly missed with a deflection sending his shot to the left and out for a corner.

Overall the last twenty minutes of the first half were full of end-to-end action but both teams failed to capitalise and find the back of the net.

Half Time: Reading City 0 v Nailsea & Tickenham 1

With the second half underway, the Cityzens once again started the second half brightly and with fifty minutes played their was a huge sigh of relief when Ellis Cowd brought us level having found the back of the net from inside the 6 yard box.

With the game now level our visitors decided to freshen things up with Ollie Carter replacing Oscar Collins ahead of the hour mark.

With just over an hour played in this fiercely contested game, Simon Johnson also decided to introduce fresh legs with Noah Chengun and Archie Denton making way for Josh Baines and Pele Hagger.

With just over ten minutes remaining Nailsea & Tickenham who were looking for a breakthrough swapped Shea Mannings for Jack Fillingham.

With just minutes left on the clock Nailsea & Tickenham decided to make another change and that saw goalscorer Seb Scott swapped for Scott Pilgrim.

In the dying minute of the game City were awarded a penalty, leading by example Team Captain Josh Baines stepped up to take it but was denied by Nailsea and Twickenham’s aptly-named goalkeeper Jacob Glover.

Full Time: Reading City 1 v Nailsea & Tickenham 1

With the scores locked at 1-1 we will now head to the West Country to settle this Preliminary Round tie.