In a rare Wednesday night game, Simon Johnson and his Cityzens were on the road to Hilltop FC who we’d already beaten at home this season!

This evening’s venue was the impressive Holloway’s Park, home to Southern League Division One Central outfit Beaconsfield Town who Hilltop have a ground-sharing arrangement with.

The game started brightly and with twelve minutes on the clock Harvey Collins was cautioned as things began to heat-up out on the pitch.

With the half-hour mark approaching, City youngster Lucas Taplin scored the opening goal as he continues to impress. That’s now three goals in three games.

With half-time approaching, Hilltop found the equaliser via Bruno Dos Santos.

The referee called time on the first half and both sides would go in level at the break, meaning that the game was very much still all to play for.

HALF TIME: Hilltop 1 v Reading City 1

The second half got back underway with both sides unchanged.

With sixty seven minutes played, Hilltop took the lead for the first time via Jordy Mumbiny.

Our hosts, Hilltop then began changing their personnel as Alan Demiri replaced Abdishakur Mohamed and Arale Mohamed replaced Shuaib Ali with sixty eight minutes played.

Simon Johnson then called upon his bench as Bobbi Emery replaced Lamin Sankoh and Lucas Wynn replaced Harvey Collins with sixty nine minutes played.

With seventy nine minutes on the clock, Hilltop would bring on another fresh pair of legs as Areeig Yakinya replaced earlier goalscorer Jordy Mumbiny.

With eighty five minutes left and only one goal separating the two teams there was a lot of tension and Hilltop’s Areeig Yakinya was cautioned.

With just one minute of regular time left on the clock, Mohamed Ali replaced Bruno Dos Santos who had scored the host’s first goal this evening.

As the game moved into added time, both sides were still battling for all three points and Hilltop’s Hossam Hassan was cautioned.

Full Time: Hilltop 2 v Reading City 1 

Despite tonight’s result there was positives to take with our Under 18s Skipper, Jay Herbert earning his full debut for the first team and Under 18s top goalscorer Lucas Taplin continuing to impress in front of goal.

After a tough few weeks out on the road, Simon Johnson and his Cityzens now return home where they’ll play 5 games in 15 days, kicking off with Ardley United on Saturday.