For the first of four big home games coming this month down at the Rivermoor, Simon Johnson and his management team prepared for their squad to host ninth-placed North Greenford United in a bid to extend their positive run.

Only one change to the side who shared the points last week with Windsor and Eton, as Riley Denny was exchanged for Dan Davies. In overcast conditions, the game was set to be end-to-end, with both outfits strong and in form.

Kick-Off: Reading City 0-0 North Greenford United

The visitors got us underway at 3pm and the battle had begun. Early pressure from North Greenford saw volleying efforts from either side of the box, but ‘keeper Charlie York pushed away attempts with the support of his backline.

In almost an instant response, defender Ellis Cowd switched an effort to Dan Davies out on the left, but the midfielder’s shot swerved and rolled out of play.

Twenty minutes gone, and both sides continued to increase the tempo, searching for an early goal to break the deadlock. The Blues’ Rahim Jude-Boyd struck a powerful chance towards the net, calling Oli Bourne into action. The defender stood strong to block the chance and headed it clear.

A tidy ball flicked into the City box, neatly set up by skipper Stefan Brown, reached the feet of Hamish Thomson, who attempted to slip it past Ryan Lehane between the sticks, but his strike was defended well.

It’s safe to say the match was action packed at both ends, as visiting defender Rory Merrick stung the palms of York with a shot from just outside the six yard box on the counter.

Emil Mursalov, who earned his home debut as he started for the first time at the Rivermoor since his return, played a neat one-two with Jay Herbert, with the latter sliding to hit the ball, albeit man-marked, but the defender’s effort was cleared.

With the first half gradually drawing to a close, it seemed as if the teams would enter the break goalless, but City soon found the opener. Forward Mo Ceesay earned his seventh goal in all competitions, sprinting into space and hitting a direct ball, slotting home the opener past Lehane on the stroke of half time.

As the referee blew his whistle, the Cityzens had the advantage at the interval and were energized ready for the next 45.

Half-Time: Reading City 1-0 North Greenford United

Into the next period, and City started on the front foot, continuing from where they left off. A tidy team build-up between Ceesay, Mursalov, Davies and Joe Pilling called Lehane into action, but the effort was sadly prevented, with the ‘keeper sprinting off his line to claim.

City almost doubled their lead in the 57th minute, as a lovely free-kick delivered by Herbert was headed and flicked into the net by Thomson, but the linesman had his flag raised as it crossed the line.

With half an hour to go, Johnson opted to make his first and second substitutions of the game, which saw Joel Valentin and Ousman Darboe replace Jenson Mansel and Emil Mursalov.

City continued to threaten and were rewarded for their efforts through a sublime shot from Joe Pilling which skimmed the ground, finding the back of the net at the far post to double the home team’s advantage!

Two goals in very quick succession for the home team saw defender Oli Bourne bury a sublime shot from a dangerous header, crashing into the roof of the net, after being fed a crucial ball by substitute Valentin from a corner.

Darboe almost made it four only moments later, with a fast effort unleashed at the edge of the City attacking half, almost volleying, forcing Lehane into a save down the middle. The forward attempted to sneak in a ball on the rebound, but the Blues’ backline cleared seconds before.

A triple switch for Johnson’s side saw the exit of Dan Davies, who had gone close on numerous occasions, in exchange for Riley Denny. We also welcomed back Lucas Taplin and Ben Holder, who both made their return after a number of weeks out on the sidelines with injury, each replacing a goalscorer, with Mo Ceesay and Joe Pilling exiting the fray respectively.

Following the latest goal, the game had become heated, and tensions finally spilled over minutes before the end of regular time following a foul on the City skipper. Ousman Darboe and the visitors’ George Harmes both earned a yellow for their involvement.

City were on a roll from minute one to minute ninety, and an end-to-end clash ended with a spot kick, as Jay Herbert was felled inside the area. Stefan Brown, with two assists to his name, finally earned his goal, stepping up and calmly scoring City’s fourth of the afternoon.

The referee called time on a great afternoon out, and Simon Johnson’s side shifted three spaces up the table to eleventh place, and the City Express continued to steam ahead!

Full Time: Reading City 4-0 North Greenford United

A strong all-round performance, with plenty to be proud of – another three points on the board and eight unbeaten in all competitions, with a run of five in the league. We would like to wish North Greenford United all the best for the rest of the season!

Johnson’s side hit the road this Tuesday to head to Bulpit Lane as they meet with Step 3 side Hungerford Town as part of the second round of the Berks and Bucks County Cup.