Report

Bermerton Heath Harliquins 5
Reading Town 3

Gil Morgan 2 (5 & 7)
Danny Seaward (43)
Reading Towns interest in this season FA Cup is no longer as the Scours Lane side were beaten by a very experienced Wessex League side, Bermerton Heath Harlequins 5-3 on Saturday. Town were missing skipper Mark Camp-Overy , Scott Rees and striker Ross Herridge for this clash whilst handing 18 year old forward Gil Morgan his first start.

Town were guilty of a Jekell and Hyde performance and

with a minute on the clock a through ball from the Heath midfield saw goalkeeper Graham Sims charge out of his box only for a Heath forward to round him and score into the empty net. Rocked by their start, Town looked to settle and began passing the ball with more purpose. In the 5th min, winger Danny Seaward played a teasing ball into the Heath box and Morgan stabbed home a right foot shot from 16 yards to level the tie. Minutes later Town took the lead when good work from Jamie Fairchild who played the ball out to Seaward and his pass picked out Morgan with controlled the ball expertly and volleyed past the full stretch Heath keeper to put Town 2-1 up. Bermerton wer not to be taken lightly and their passing and movement was of the highest quality but they found the defensive pairing of Gordon Richie and Mike Hancock difficult to breech.

On the half hour a Town corner found Hancock lurking but he volleyed over from 6 yards with the goal gaping. Sims had to be sharp to a Bermerton effort minutes later whilst Seaward was causing problems down the right wing with his direct running.

In the 44th min, Town took a deserved 3-1 lead when the ball feel to Seaward on the half way line and noticing the Bermerton No1 out of position, Seaward stuck a speculative shoot from 50 yards which fell into the net and sent the Town travelling support into raptures. Towns lack of experience once again proved costly as seconds before the interval, Heath capitalized on a error to make it 3-2 at the break.

The interval proved to have an negative effect on Town as substitute Liam Tackley injured his knee during the half time warm up and news filtered back to the dressing room that the young winger may be out for a couple of months due to a serious knee injury. Within 33 seconds of the restart Bermerton were on level terms with a well taken goal and it was the home side that looked the more likely to progress from this point. Town to their credit worked hard to get back into the game and the introduction of Danny Isaiew nearly paid of as with almost his first touch, midfielder Luca Riccio slide a ball into the strikers feet, and after brushing a challenge he chipped the ball over the Heath keeper only for it to trickle wide. Defender Richie then collected the ball in his own half and after eluding 6 challenges but his shot from 18 yards was well blocked. Bermerton were still dangerous and forced a series of 5 corners which found the Town defence in defiant mood. Town's best work was on the counter and good work from Jason Awbery on the left, found Seaward unmarked but his left foot volley clipped the crossbar on the way over. Town were forced to break the central pairing up as Richie succumbed to a knee injury and it proved to be decisive. With Town looking to force a replay, Bermerton took the lead in the 89th minute after a slick move down the right, however a cross from the right found a Heath striker in a offside position but the assistant kept his flag down and he scored from 10 yards to put the tie beyond doubt. Town threw men forward but were caught as Bermerton scored a fifth goal to set up a tie with Henley Town in the next round.

Managers Goudie and Goff were disappointed not to progress. Goudie said"We played some excellent football and it was a fantastic game to watch as both side got the ball down and played. Gil Morgan took his chances well and the boys really regrouped after a horror start.""To go 3-1 up, the tie was over but we were guilty of showing our inexperience and conceded shortly after.""Bermerton are a brilliant side and looked to pass it around but we felt we were capable of bringing them back to Scours Lane with the scores level but injuries to key players were to prove costly." Goudie added, "We have a huge amount of faith in our squad but the lads just need a little bit more self belief and we have the makings of being a very good side."