On home turf once again, our Under 18s outfit set out to host their Wallingford and Crowmarsh counterparts in RG30. Following the withdrawal of North Leigh’s side in the Allied Counties Youth League, each team will now meet three times across the season. 

Johno and his squad were hoping for the same again, following a convincing 4-1 victory against ‘Wally’ less than a month ago, whilst looking to return to their solid run of form following a tough evening in South Oxfordshire, with Didcot Town running out as winners of the same scoreline.

Four changes were made to the line-up fielded last time out, with Rio Robinson, Raheem Adanse and Solomon Large beginning out on the bench, whilst Louis Eade just missed out, with Charlie Johnson, Conrad Glowacki, Archie Friday and Lucas Wilkinson all earning another start to their name. Leo Wilkinson retained his place in between the sticks, whilst Joe Corker led out the side once again.

Kick-Off: Reading City 0-0 Wallingford & Crowmarsh

In what were cold and biting conditions, the first chance of the half fell to City, with forward Reiss Baker lofting a ball into the box, which reached the feet of Glowacki. The midfielder took a touch and unleashed, and the rogue ball looked to be going wide, but the visitors defended well to keep it in and push back.

Wallingford’s early pressure brought on a battle in the box, and the visiting side made the breakthrough through a buried shot at the near post. Leo Wilkinson pulled off an excellent initial save, but the second ball was converted from close range.

City attempted to search for an immediate response to bring the scoring level, and a tidy link-up between Baker, Adam Goodwin and skipper Corker saw the referee award the home team’s first corner. The dangerous ball swerved, forcing the visiting shot-stopper into action, who palmed away the first ball, before the follow-up shot was cleared at the edge of the area.

The home team began to settle into the game and continued the fight for the leveller. A beautiful through ball from Aston Fashanu set up Glowacki, who charged towards Baker and laid off a cross. A one-two and over-the-head shot from Glowacki, followed by an attempted header from a City player in the box, was comfortably gathered.

At the halfway mark of the opening period, a great set-up from Lucas Wilkinson was chested by Glowacki, and switched into the path of Baker, who tried his luck from distance, pivoting and striking, but his effort whistled just wide.

A perfectly timed run from Charlie Johnson and an excellent goal-line clearance from the defender kept the scoreline intact as the visitors matched the pressure City had been piling on.

Before the interval, both sides had solid chances to test the goalkeeper. With thirty-five gone, skipper Corker fired a direct free kick from twenty yards out, but his effort rolled agonisingly past the post, whilst Leo Wilkinson was forced to punch away a fast ball from the left. Heading into the break, Johno’s side were trailing, and a big 45 was incoming…

Half Time: Reading City 0-1 Wallingford & Crowmarsh

City emerged from the break revitalised, and set out to turn the game around. A half-time substitution for the home team saw defender Bartosz Tomaszewski exchanged for Ahmed Mohamed, as Johno looked to his bench for inspiration, whilst Conrad Glowacki exited in place of Muhammadu Sy only minutes after.

Baker went close yet again on the sixtieth-minute mark, as he fired a direct effort after neat build-up, cutting inside and letting fly, but his strike bounced off the post in a moment of heartbreak.

Another switch in the second half was made to the attacking line, with Adam Goodwin replaced by Solomon Large.

A brilliant block from Archie Friday, supported by Charlie Slade, blocked a threatening effort from the edge of the box, with the latter getting his head to it before volleying downfield.

With time gradually running out, sublime set-up play allowed Reiss Baker to dart forwards, with a tidy ball pressurising the Wallingford goalkeeper. The strike was pushed away, but Muhammadu Sy latched onto the rebounded ball, shook free of his marker and pressed forward, half-volleying an effort and slotting it home to bring it all square!

City almost stole the lead late on, as Johnson beat two men and struck from around twenty yards out, but his effort clattered off the crossbar. Substitute Solomon Large almost made it two also, cutting in before sneaking it past the goalkeeper, but the linesman had his flag raised after the defender’s first connection with the ball, and the score remained 1-1.

A late change for City with less than ten to go saw the entrance of Rio Robinson for Archie Friday to bolster the attack, and despite a few near chances for both teams, the tempo gradually began to fizzle out, and the referee soon called time on a tough evening.

Full Time: Reading City 1-1 Wallingford & Crowmarsh

Unfortunately, neither side could find a winner, and the spoils were shared after a frustrating and hard-fought evening. Both sides had spells of brilliance and performances which the teams can be proud of. We’d like to wish Wallingford & Crowmarsh all the best for the rest of the season!

Johno’s side are swapping league action for a cup campaign as they face Wokingham Town for a midweek edition of the RGClásico, as part of the Berks and Bucks’ Under 18s Midweek Floodlight Cup.