A midweek night under the lights for our Cityzens, who were ready and raring to go to take on Epsom & Ewell, as part of the Southern Combination Challenge Cup.

Ahead of the game, gaffer for the evening Michael Butcher opted for six changes to the side fielded in our 2-0 league defeat to Holyport last week. A switch between the sticks as Jonathan O’Sullivan replaced Charlie York, whilst Declan Joyce, Harvey Collins and Lamin Sankoh all entered the side. Recent signing Sacario Waugh and Under 23s midfielder Jamie Barker both earned their full first team debuts, both named in the starting XI.

Luke Donville, Eddie Lazarczuk. Phil Veal, Ellis Cowd and Josh Baines all retained their places in the XI, whilst Joel Valentin, Liam Baker and Reiss Baker all started out on the bench. Two young players were also named on the teamsheet for this fixture as Jay Herbert and Ikhon Ward were handed their first minutes of senior football, both named as substitutes ahead of the tie. 

Kick-Off: Reading City 0-0 Epsom & Ewell

Skipper Josh Baines got us underway, and our visitors started well, forcing O’Sullivan into an early save as a near chance crept close to the goal, but our shot-stopper pushed the ball out of danger for a corner. Donville made an excellent clearance to rid the set play upfield.

City gained the advantage early into the first half, through a sublime first goal for Sacario Waugh! Baines drove a volleying effort towards Waugh, falling at the near post, and the forward buried his shot into the top of the net, giving our boys in blue the lead.

The visitors provided an almost immediate response, piling on the pressure through a built-up attack. A cross over the top of the box drifted towards Donville, who headed the chance out of the area, and a slight touch from an Epsom player sent the ball out of play.

A strong block from Cowd provided relief as a dangerous ball darted in from Epsom, which ricocheted and quickly bounced out for a set play, but once taken, the referee blew his whistle to award a City goal kick for a foul in the area.

A sublime throw-in from Lazarczuk dipped to Waugh in the box, and a round of head tennis followed, eventually reaching Waugh once again. A slightly heavy touch from the forward allowed Epsom to reclaim possession, and the Salts charged downfield. A menacing ball was driven forward by Epsom’s Michael-Anderson, who attempted to curl in an effort at the corner of the eighteen-yard box, but the linesman raised his flag moments before.

Collins flicked a great pass into the path of Waugh on the left, but his effort was knocked off-target, and a deflection delivered possession to our opposition. The Salts continued to press, and a fierce shot floated through the air and sent into the hands of O’Sullivan.

Shortly after, an Epsom player received treatment in our attacking half following a tackle, before a second brilliant throw from Lazarczuk from around twenty five yards out dipped in flight and just darted out at the far post. A highly possession-based game, with both sides having a lot of joy on the ball, scrambling in midfield to reclaim. 

As the clock ticked over to the half an hour mark, Epsom had their closest chance yet, as a low ball was knocked across the ground towards goal, but it whistled just past O’Sullivan’s left hand post.

Maintaining the intensity, Epsom started a counter attack following a City throw, but O’Sullivan cleared out of the area. Consecutive set plays, including two throw-ins, were fired into the attacking half. A resulting corner was well cleared by Veal before O’Sullivan caught the ball to end the attack.

As the first 45 started to draw to a close, the City backline opted to join the attack, with a long range shot from around twenty yards out soaring through the air from Veal, only narrowly missing and dipping over the bar.

Veal blocked a powerful cross near the post to keep the scoreline 1-0, which fell out for a corner. Waugh, Joyce and Cowd linked up to make the clearance and secure possession before pushing upfield again. 

The final shot of the half came from the visitors, with a fast ball darted towards O’Sullivan, who went to ground to claim.

Half Time: Reading City 1-0 Epsom & Ewell

One change at the interval for City as defender Phil Veal exited the fray in place of Liam Baker in a straight swap.

Epsom began the second half on the front foot, forcing O’Sullivan into a big save as a low ball was driven with pace towards the City goal. A risky ball was cleared from danger by Barker from the edge of the box, as Donville received the pass. Playing a through ball to Waugh, the forward started to chase, but the offside flag was raised on the right.

Butcher began to ring in the changes once again, with Jay Herbert making his debut from the bench, replacing Jamie Barker, who had picked up an injury following a tackle. We wish him all the best in his recovery.

Pressure from Herbert and Waugh up front sees a visiting player knock the ball out of play for a City corner. The opposition’s shot-stopper palmed it away, and the second ball couldn’t reach a player in blue.

Sankoh went for goal once again, charging through the backline, but his effort was stopped by an offside call. 

A triple save kept the Salts in the game, as Cowd brilliantly set up a chance for Collins, laying it off for him as he darted forward and crossed to Waugh. Causing problems in the area, two near-range shots were parried away by Kardel, and a third attempt on the rebound from Baines was blocked at the edge of the box before being cleared away.

An indirect free kick curled in by Lazarczuk reached Herbert out on the left, who headed it, only just missing the target. A third substitution from City followed, with Harvey Collins switching with Joel Valentin.

As we hit the 68-minute mark, Epsom were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box, and the visitors’ skipper Adam Green stepped up to the spot and slotted home the equaliser.

Another substitution and another young Cityzen entering the field of play, as Ikhon Ward replaced Lamin Sankoh to make his debut. Making an instant impact entering the final fifteen, Ward drove the ball down the right wing before switching across the box to Waugh, who took a powerful touch before the ball rolled out of play.

Sicario Waugh, who had a fantastic evening, exited the pitch in place of Reiss Baker in a straight positional swap as City’s fourth substitution of the match.

A clash in the midfield occurred, which led to the referee putting both Eddie Lazarczuk and Kionte Gillfillian-Wual’s names in the book for their involvement. 

A deflected Donville effort flies out for a throw-in in the final third. A sublime ball from Herbert towards ‘keeper Kardel posed a threat at goal, but Epsom stole possession at the edge of the box on the rebound. A counter attack called O’Sullivan into action, with a near save pushing away the menacing ball, and a follow-up shot drifted and dipped over the crossbar.

Kardel makes three impressive saves for Epsom as scrambling efforts from both Ward and Baines come close as City search for a winner inside the area, with a set piece punched away off of Kardel’s line.

A fantastic through ball from the skipper drifts into the path of Reiss Baker, who evades defenders and takes a shot one-on-one, but his effort drifted narrowly wide the far post. 

The final moment of the match fell in City’s favour, with a curling corner headed by Cowd into Kardel’s hands, with a free kick moments later only just missing the goal, brushing over the top of the bar once again.

The referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the 90 minutes, and so we went to penalties…

Full Time: Reading City 1-1 Epsom & Ewell

Our opposition stepped up to the plate first, but O’Sullivan dove to his right and coolly claimed the shot. Skipper Josh Baines was first up for City, but Kardel saved his attempt, with both teams were still on equal playing terms going into the second. Each team netted their third and fourth attempts, and Epsom buried their fifth. Lazarczuk had the decider, but calmly slotted it home past Kardel’s right hand side, and the shootout turned to sudden death. Unfortunately for City, the visitors nicked it at the end as Kardel completed his second penalty save of the night, in turn sending the Salts through to the next round.

Full Time (After Pens.): Reading City (5) 1-1 (6) Epsom & Ewell

Despite the scoreline, there were positives all round for both sides – an enjoyable and competitive evening, albeit ending in defeat for our City team. A moment of growth for both the team and media admin for the evening (who may or may not have lost count during the shootout!)

We dust ourselves off and return to league action next week, as we’re set to face Virginia Water, once again on home turf.

Congratulations for Epsom & Ewell, and we wish you all the best for the rest of the season and competition!