For the second time in just over a month, Johnson’s Cityzens returned to the impressive Arbour Park on Saturday, home to National League South outfit Slough Town, with whom Virginia Water have a ground-sharing agreement with.

Our earlier encounter saw us win 1-4 on penalties, winning our first penalty shootout in six years to progress in the next round of the Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup and coming in to Saturday’s game Simon Johnson had another record he would like to put an end to and that was our league record on the road to the Waters as our last recorded league win away from home was 2022.

City started the game brightly and as things heated up on the pitch, Virginia Water’s Cal Hamilton was the first name entered into the referee’s book.

With twenty minutes on the clock, Ewan Lynch opening the scoring for Johnson’s side.

City continued to enjoy a good spell in the first half and Ewan Lynch earnt his brace as he scored our second as half time approached.

HALF TIME: Virginia Water 0 v Reading City 2 

Simon Johnson would be happy going in at the break as we were two goals to the good.

With the second half underway, Virginia Water continued to find a way back into the game. As the hour mark approached, Virginia Water made their first substition as Adrian Tajik replaced Pierce McNamara.

Shortly after the hour mark, Simon Johnson introduced his first fresh pair of legs with Josh Baines replacing Lucas Wynn.

With sixty four minutes on the clock, Virginia Water reduced the deficit to one as Lewis Flatman pulled one back for the hosts.

Simon Johnson continued to ring the changes with Joel Valentin replacing Lamin Sankoh with sixty five minutes played and with seventy two minutes played Rob Gerrard replaced Declan Joyce.

Any hopes our hosts had of getting something out of the game would soon be short-lived as Ewan Lynch earnt his hat-trick and our third goal of the game, to restore our two goal cushion with seventy three minutes played.

Virginia Water quickly made a double change as Joshua Andrew and Saaim Rafi replaced Ashley Hitchinson and Cal Hamilton on the seventy fifth minute.

City would then make their third substitution as Pele Hagger replaced Bobbi Emery with seventy seven minutes played.

With eight minutes left, City extended their goal cushion to three as Luke Donville found our fourth goal of the afternoon and secure those three points for Johnson’s side.

As full time approached, Virginia Water would call on their bench in the hope of getting something from the game and with eighty seven minutes played Albie Nolan-French replaced Mark Bitmead before Samuel Yabini was introduced in the ninetieth minute in place of James Goodey.

With the game having gone into added time, Eddie Lazarczuk found his name in the book in the fourth minute of injury time.

FULL TIME: Virginia Water 1 v Reading City 4

The referee eventually called time on proceedings in East Berkshire and City could celebrate a what Simon Johnson hailed an “excellent performance against a very good side”.