Tonight Simon Johnson and the First Team travelled to Ascot to take on Berks County in an all-Berkshire Combined Counties Premier Division North. This was one of two all important important derbies for the club with our Under 18s also taking on Windsor  & Eton at the Rivermoor.

The Cityzens took to the pitch at the Racecourse Ground in yellow whilst our hosts Berks County were in Claret & Blue. It was our hosts who raced out of the traps.

Berks County were awarded a very early corner, after a powerful and precise strike from 25 yards forces a save out of Charlie York, tipping it over the bar on his return to the squad this evening having not featured in Saturday’s game at the Rivermoor.

A well taken corner went deep into the box but failed to find a waiting head.

Berks County received another corner with four minutes played as they continued to put pressure on City’s backline. Berks County once again deliver a threatning ball which this time met the head of a waiting player in claret & blue on the edge of the six yard box. Charlie York knocks it away. Yorkie then quickly secured the ball on the goal line from the second effort.

City quickly launched a counter attack after York’s goal kick got us going again and were awarded our first corner.  A well-delivered ball found the head of a waiting man in yellow in the six yard box but it goes narrowly wide.

Berks County earned a free kick out on the left wing with nine minutes played, but Archie Denton cleared the inswinging ball with ease.

The action continued thick and fast as both teams fiercely competed with another, and with twelve minutes played City were awarded another corner, however Harvey Rackley-Hayes collected the ball in the air with both hands.

Shortly after the quarter of an hour mark, City were awarded yet another corner. A well delivered ball went deep and Harvey Rackley-Hayes battled his way past the crowded goal line, before getting a fist to the ball and then chasing it down to collect just outside the six yard box.

With twenty minutes played, City had a fantastic chance to take the lead after Pele Hagger bombed down the left wing and saw his first cross played back to him. He then delivered a perfectly weighted second ball which found Bobbi Emery, unfortunately the youngster’s header went narrowly wide at the back post.

Johnson’s side had now found their rythm and continued to cause our hosts problems. As the half hour mark approached City broke into the box and Lucas Wynn flicked a throw-in up the touchline. Ewan Lynch then beat his man to the touchline before playing a low cross which Rackley-Hayes dived to collect.

With half hour played, City were awarded a throw in ten yards up the touchline, County were wise to the long ball and cleared the effort.

With thirty minutes on the clock, City fell foul of the ex-players curse as Connor Suckling, a former Cityzen got the better of Charlie York. Rackley-Hayes delivered a long range goal-kick and Berks County picked up the second ball after initially being met by the head of a Cityzen. Suckling found himself one-on-one with his former team mate Charlie York and although York guessed the right way, he was slightly out of reach and County took the lead.

Suckling almost made it a brace against his former side with thirty five minutes played, having broken through again but was denied by the Linesman.

With thirty eight minutes played, City continued to battle to find a way back into the game. Once again Pele Hagger delivered a brilliant ball into the box from the left wing, which found Lynch at the near post, unfortunately his header was short of the target.

With thirty nine minutes played, Charlie York was forced to make a save after his misplaced pass found a man in claret and blue. Realising his error, he was quick out of his box and closed down the attack.

With five minutes of regular time remaining, City were awarded a free kick outside the centre circle. City called for a card after a heavy challenge broke down their earlier advantage, but these were calls were waved away by the referee.

With forty two minutes played, City were awarded a drop ball after a clash of heads, 30 yards outside the city box. Thankfully both players were ok.

As half time approached, Ewan Lynch drived forward down the left wing, beating two men before breaking into the box. He takes a shot but Rackley-Hayes saves.

The referee brought the first half to a close and City headed into the break behind.

HALF TIME: Berks County 1 v Reading City 0

City started the second half brightly and enjoyed a good spell of possession, which built up to an attack with fifty two minutes played only for Skipper Josh Baines’ effort go narrowly wide from outside the D.

With fifty five minutes on the clock, Berks County found the back of the net but were once again denied by the linesman, having been flagged for offside.

As we approached the hour mark, Berks County eventually got their second goal. A low ball was played from the left hand side, which was met by George Gould who tapped it in at the back post.

On the hour mark, Lynch almost found our opening goal with a good effort that flashed across the goal, but it was narrowly wide.

Simon Johnson introduced a fresh pair of legs on the hour mark, with Lamin Sankoh replacing Archie Denton.

With sixty five minutes played, City made their second change of the afternoon, this time a double one with Liam Baker and Mckoy Palmer being introduced in place of Josh Baines and Lucas Wynn.

With seventy minutes played Simon Johnson made another substitition as Declan Joyce replaced Luke Donville.

With seventy one minutes played there was a brief stop in play as Sankoh went down following a knock from behind. However he was straight back on his feet and into the action as we got going again.

With seventy three minutes on the clock, Mckoy Palmer made an impact up top, forcing Berks County keeper Rackley-Hayes to make his first mistake of the evening with a good ball in from the right. He drops the cross at the near post and Lynch is quick to react but puts it out for a goal kick.

With just over ten minutes left, City were awarded a free kick from 39 yards. Pele Hagger delivers an inswinging ball towards the back post but Rackley-Hayes is first out to pounce on the ball and clutches it in his hands.

With eighty two minutes left, our visitors very nearly had three. After beating the back line and York, it looked certain they’d score but lost their footing when attempting to shoot.

City finally scored with eighty four minutes on the clock. After an initial ball in from Pele Hagger down the left-hand side having picked up a loose ball following a challenge on Lynch. After Bobbi Emery’s shot was defended, Mckoy Palmer bounced to pull one back for Johnson’s side.

With five minutes of regular time remaining, City made their final change as Simon Johnson replaced Phil Veal with Joel Valentin.

The referee called time on proceedings and it was a narrow defeat for the Cityzens here at the Racecourse Ground.

FULL TIME: Berks County 2 v Reading City 1

City are back in action on Saturday when they head to North London to face Edgware & Kingsbury in our last game before Christmas. Your support on the road would be very much appreciated.