Back in league action for the penultimate time this season and the last league game under the lights for the 2024/25 season. The guests this time were high flying Eagles, Bedfont Sports who having already confirmed a place in the playoffs are now on the hunt for second place and the prize of hosting the semi final and any final if Bedfont were to progress. 

Ahead of the match Simon Johnson opted to make two changes from Saturday’s defeat on the road to Harefield United with Ben Holder and Bobbi Emery being given an opportunity from the start, dropping Lamin Sankoh to the bench with Nathanael Boakye missing out on the matchday squad. 

Kick off : Reading CIty 0-0 Bedfont Sports 

The referee blows his whistle for the first half to begin with both teams having a feel for each other testing each other’s defenses with high balls and crosses from deep. It would be Bedfont who would come out quickest of the blocks creating the first opening and forcing a great save by Charlie York to deny the Eagles and early lead. City would begin to feel the pressure however finding it harder to keep hold of possession in the attacking third of the pitch. All this pressure would lead to the opening goal of the game  as Triston Abrahams skipping past the CIty defenders doing very well to get a low cross into the CIty box where Tommy O’Neil would turn the ball home for the Eagles past York. 

A first half scarce of any chances with both teams managing to check each other out after the goal with both keepers being forced into saves, with York making an exceptional save to keep our Cityzens in touching distance. Ben Holder would be the first to be cautioned picking up a yellow card after a missed timed challenge. 

Half time : Reading CIty 0-1 Bedfont Sports 

As the teams come out for the second half it would be Reading CIty being the first to mix things up by swapping Eddie Lazarczuk for Harvey Collins. In similar fashion to the first half, both teams would even eachother out, a testament to Reading City who despite a poor season by our standards are still able to challenge and keep toe to toe with these top teams in the division. This resilience would be broken as Jamie Fuller would break before slipping through Lewis Flatman who would bend it home leaving York little to no chance of keeping that one out after a number of fine saves up to this point.

Trisdon Andrews would be next into the referee’s book, both sides would make changes of their own shortly after this second goal with goal scorer Lewis Flatman being given a break with one eye on Saturdays game I’m sure, as Jared Myers would come on in his place. Lamin Sankoh would replace Ben Holder with an earlier booking being a key factor as to Simon Johnson’s decision on who to pull.  With the game coming into its final moments Simon Johnson would have one last roll of the dice replacing Bobbi Emery and Josh Baines for Lamin Sankoh and Josh Baines. Whoever these changes would be unable to prevent Bedfont form grabbing a third and killing the game off from a set piece with Jared Myers getting on the end of George Maxwell’s free kick. It would be a quick fire double for Bedfont as a shocked CIty side would not be able to prevent a fourth with Efraim Difuamna-Ngungi finishing off a sublime move which I’m sure would have put a big smile on Bedfont manager Barry Chapman. In between the two goals Bedfont made a change bringing on Alfie Lal for Trisdon Andrews.

Into the final minutes Bedfont would make the final changes of the match with Joseph Smith coming on to replace Brandon Watts. The clock would run to a close and the referee would bring this evening’s game to a close ending midweek action at the Rivermoor for the 24/25 season.

Full time: Reading City 0-4 Bedfont Sports

A tough evening here in RG30 for our first team as promotion hopefuls Bedfont Sports being too strong for the Cityzens on this occasion. We would like to wish everyone at Bedfont Sports all the best for the season and their playoff campaign. We would also like to extend a thank you to each and every one of our supporters for coming out our games and backing the boys this season.

Johnson’s side will now have just over a week to rest and recover before our final game of the season at home to Burnham. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you and would once again like to thank you for all your support this season.