What was a very windy afternoon away against Allied Community Elite in the league cup.

Lineups for Saturday’s matchup were changed as Adam Render wasn’t in between the sticks as Leo Wilkinson returned, Ben Raggett was on the bench as Omar Carrington also returned to the starting line-up, Mathew Williamson wasn’t in the squad as Simeon Howell was in the midfield, Kenny Evans wasn’t available as Jay Wiltshire is his replacement however Luke Chidgey is moved into a deeper role this game, Mitchell Parker is suffering through injury so Mo Davies was ready to play Last but not least Oluwaloseyi Akinola is in the XI as Shane Clarke is unavailable for Saturday’s clash.

The bench included Gaffer Jake Keegan, Sam Connors, Kai Stubbs, Harrison Evans and finally Nathanial Davies.

KICK OFF: Allied Community Elite 0 v Reading City 0

The teams were out raring to go as the referee blew his whistle the game was kicked off and was underway.

Nothing was happening for both teams early on as they were adjusting to how much the wind was changing the flights of the ball.

The game was very end to end in the first 20 minutes as no team was able to break the deadlock and was also very physical in the early moments of the game.

Jay Wiltshire then got the ball and started attacking the width of the pitch and made the defenders struggle as he beat the fullback to cut in and shoot and then hit it just over the bar.

Not long after Omar was fouled near the halfway line and Omar Carrington stepped up to take it and hit a high lobbed ball into the defensive line and the wind took it and the defender got a touch to it but the ball fell into the roof of the net and gave City the early lead.

After the goal happened the game was still tight but no end product for both sides.

A corner was won into the latter stages of the half and was whipped into the back post and Ellis Graham leaped up high to win it but just went over the net.

HALF TIME: Allied Community Elite 0 v Reading City 1 

The teams walked back out onto the pitch and Keegan made a half time substitution as Louis Eade was taken off for Reiss Baker and the game was back underway.

Another early second half substitution for Keegan as Mo Davies and Simeon Howell were taken off for Gaffer Jake Keegan and Ben Ragget.

The game was starting to get very physical as fouls were coming out left right and center and the wind didn’t get much better as it was still hard to cope.

Another substitution as Omar Carrington was taken off for Nathaniel Davies in the final stages of the game.

After the substitution game was resumed as Jay Wiltshire attacked down the wing again and hit it low across the ground but a defender just got it out for a corner which didn’t result in anything but was a very close chance.

In the late stages of the game a substitution was made as Luke Chidgey was taken off as Omar Carrington returned for a second stint.

Ragget launches a ball forward and Wiltshire runs onto it looking to find that second and attempts to cross but once again falls out for a corner.

The last 10 minutes of the game as Allied Community Elite as they ran one on one with Leo Wilkinson but once again saved us and kept us ahead of this cup tie in the last dying minutes of the game.

The 90th minute was here and the last substitution for City as Nathaniel Davies was taken off as Luke Chidgey was ready for his second appearance of the game.

City all game were defending well and the referee looks at his watch and blows for full time making Reading City advance into the next round of the league cup and walks away with a clean sheet.

FULL TIME: Allied Community Elite 0 v Reading City 1 

Overall City played really well considering the circumstances of the weather and co considering we got a clean sheet every player should be proud.

The next game is Kintbury Rangers away  and is another cup fixture with a week to prepare. Hopefully the Cityzens can walk away and advance into the next round.