Coming into this evening’s game Simon Johnson would have been looking for three points after being on the recieving end of a club record defeat to Egham on Saturday. However Ardley United were also looking to turn their form around and not record a third consecutive victory.
Our hosts were pretty much on top from the off and were dictating the game and with nine minutes gone Elliott Osborne-Ricketts was the first name in the referee’s book.
With Ardley dictating the game and pressing well it came as no surprise when they scored the opening goal on the twenty third minute. Anaclet Odhiambo was able to chip Charlie York on his line after a brilliant delivery from Caleb Moir.
Just before the half Ardley would find themselves attracting attention from the referee again as Sam McConnell became the second player of the evening to be booked.
HALF TIME: Ardley United 1 v Reading City 0
With our hosts continuing to dominate City were unable to reply in the first half and went in at the break trailing by a goal.
With the second half now underway and the Cityzens spurred on by Johnson’s half time, team talk, they started the second half with a spring in their step and with fifty three minutes on the clock their was almost an equalising goal but Thomas Russell in goal for Ardley comfortably dealt with any shot to preserve his clean sheet.
With fifty seven minutes Anaclet Odhiambo almost earnt a brace, however he fired over the bar rather than troubling Charlie York.
As the hour mark approached both sides opted to bring on fresh pairs of legs, the hosts swapping Elliott Osborne-Ricketts with Tyrae Njogu and City introducing Lucas Wynn in place of Ellis Cowd.
On the hour mark our hosts went close again, a well-taken corner by Harry Williams found the head of James Casbieri, only to see his header smash off the post.
The referee was having a busy night as with sixty five minutes on the clock he would caution Caleb Moir, the third consecutive Ardley United player to find his name in the referee’s book.
With seventy minutes on the clock the referee also cautioned Lamin Sankoh earning City’s first booking of the night.
With seventy three minutes on the clock Ardley United’s Anaclet Odhiambo was also cautioned becoming their fourth player to be entered into the referee’s book.
With seventy six minutes on the clock, Ardley United shouted for a penalty but the referee wasn’t having any of it.
With just ten minutes left Simon Johnson looked to his bench in the hope of earning at least an equaliser and made a double substitution as Charlie Davies and Daniel replaced Josh Baines and Lamin Sankoh.
With eighty four minutes on the clock and still looking to earn something from the game, Simon Johnson made another change as Declan Joyce replaced Joel Valentin.
With four minutes of normal time remaining Ardley United replaced replaced Freddie John Joyce with Gerald Muchecheteri.
As we entered added time the substitions continued with Archie Denton replacing Liam Baker for the Cityzens and Tom Rowlinson replacing Anaclet Odhiambo for our hosts.
With seven minutes of injury time played City’s Declan Joyce was also cautioned by the referee.
FULL TIME: Ardley United 1 v Reading City 0
The referee called time on proceedings and we headed home without any points. We’ll return to action on Saturday when we head to Wembley and will hopefully stop the rot before suffering a third consecutive defeat.
