With Simon Johnson still away Michael Butcher led the Cityzens on a short-trip to Holyport in an all-Berkshire Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North clash kicking off what will be a tough month of fixtures.

It didn’t take long for our hosts to take the lead with 6 minutes on the clock as Harvey Seeman capitalised on a well-timed counter attack.

With twenty two minutes on the clock, Amari Fashanu doubled Holyport’s lead.

With City two goals down, frustration began to boil and Alfie Grant was cautioned by the referee with twenty five minutes on the clock. Eddie Lazarczuk then found himself in the book with thirty eight minutes.

In added time, Holyport’s Fabien Etienne was sin binned, bringing an end to an contested first half where there was a flurry of bookings.

HALF TIME: Holyport 2 v Reading City 0 

Michael Butcher made a substitution at the start of the second half as Archie Denton replaced Luke Donville.

With fifty three minutes played, Holyport’s Logan Coles was shown yellow.

With an hour played Michael Butcher once again called upon the bench and Lucas Wynn was introduced in place of Phil Veal.

Holyport then made their first swap of the afternoon as Jake Beck-Nardoni replaced Harvey Seeman with sixty two minutes on the clock.

As City tried to find a way back into the game, the changes continued to be rung and with seventy minutes played Bobbi Emery replaced Reiss Baker.

With seventy four minutes on the clock Holyport swapped Daniel Vincent for Alexander Bourne.

With seventy nine minutes played Holyport swapped earlier goalscorer Amari Fashanu for Lucas Surpanu.

With eighty two minutes on the clock, Michael Butcher swapped Charlie Davies for Eddie Lazarczuk and with eighty seven minutes played Harvey Collins replaced Josh Baines.

With eighty four minutes played our hosts replaced Cyril Ocansey with Matthew Ensby.

FULL TIME: Holyport 2 v Reading City 0 

Despite the result, their was positives to take with City youngster Reiss Baker making his full First Team debut.