Waking up this morning on matchday, everyone at Reading City Football Club would of had a sense of excitement mixed with a tinge of anticipation ahead of tonight’s all important clash against Penn & Tylers Green, knowing that failure to register any points would mean our title hopes were over.

Our youngsters were told earlier this season by Gaffer, Johno to treat every game like a cup final and tonight was no different. Johno also had the welcome boost of our topgoalscorer Lucas Taplin returning from the treatment room along with Charlie Johnson.

On a big night for the club our youngsters were buoyed on by a large crowd which included our Club Mascot Lawsey the Lion along with First Team Manager Simon Johnson and members of the First Team Squad.

With a number of our youngsters having progressed to the First Team this season, their attendance epitomised our one club ethos which we have proudly developed here at Reading City Football Club.

The first fifteen minutes saw both sides striving to break the deadlock, our visitors knew they needed a win to keep their title hopes alive whilst our youngsters knew that defeat wasn’t an option in our quest for silverware.

The opening goal came as we past the quarter of an hour mark, but it was our visitors who were celebrating. Moments later however City were soon back in the game with Lucas Taplin capitalising on a great cross from Charlie Johnson to grab our equaliser and his eighteenth goal of the season!

City found themselves in danger once again with twenty-five minutes on the clock but Leo Wilkinson made a brilliant save punching the ball away from danger. Penn and Tylers pounced on the loose ball, only to see their second attempt sail over the crossbar and over the Railway End, well away from causing us any danger.

With half hour on the clock, City forced a great save out of the visiting keeper. Charlie Johnson whipped a great corner in, which Sam Waller met only for the keeper to comfortably claim.

The referee called for half-time and a big forty five minutes would await both sides in a season defining game.

HALF TIME: Reading City 1 v Penn & Tylers Green 1

With the second half back underway, it started in the same fashion as the first with the ball being fought for in the middle of the park.

With fifty minutes on the clock, Johno called upon his bench and the first substitution of the evening saw Frankie Fullbrook replace Adam Goodwin.

An hour had passed and with the scorelines still level, Charlie Johnson who had just returned from injury pulled up with cramp and was replaced with Archie Friday.

With fifteen minutes of regular time remaining, Johno decided to change our attacking options by replacing Joe Corker with Harlen Lewis in the hope of breaking the deadlock.

With eighty five minutes on the clock, goalscorer Lucas Taplin was replaced with Charlie Gmiterek.

As we entered added time, Harlen Lewis almost engraved his name into City folklore as he sprinted goalwards, unfortunately however he was flagged for offside with the tightest of margins and city continued to search for their winning goal.

The referee called time on proceedings here at the Rivermoor and everyone connected with Reading City Football Club could breathe a huge sigh of relief that tonight’s draw was enough to keep our title hopes alive.

On behalf of everyone at Reading City Football Club we’d like to say commiserations to Penn & Tyler’s, they have fought a good fight all season and should be very proud of their efforts.

FULL TIME: Reading City 1 v Penn & Tylers Green 1

Johno’s side now look ahead to a huge all-Berkshire clash against near-neighbours and rivals Binfield for the Allied Counties Youth Football League Central Division here at the Rivermoor on Tuesday 29th April.

Before that exciting clash however they are back in Allied Counties Youth Football League Subsidiary Cup action on Monday night when we make the journey to Hampshire to face Alton United in the final game in the Group Stages. We’ll have more information on that fixture in the coming days so please keep an eye out for our official match preview.