Reading YMCA v AFC Winkfield
Thames Valley Premier League – Premier Division
It’s always so much nicer to travel to a game when the sun is shining and this was to be one of my shorter journeys this season, two trains but less than an hour from start to finish. This match was to be the first “Hitting the Road” event from Football in Berkshire where they showcase one of the local Berkshire clubs. There were special guests invited, including author and podcast legend Paul Watson (@paul_c_watson on Twitter), Steph and Liz from the local Berks & Bucks FA, and Andy & Matt from social media grassroots football stat central Twitter account NonLeagueHQ (@NonLeagueHQ1).
Abi from Football in Berkshire had produced an excellent one off programme for the occasion and as soon as they mentioned the club were trying out a new section on their menu you can understand why I added the event to my schedule!
I’d had far too much to drink on Friday so was feeling a little delicate and took advantage of the good weather by going for a wander along the Kennet & Avon canal first, taking in Aldermaston Wharf, before heading to the ground which is around a 15 minute walk from the train station (as we found to our cost on the way back, misjudging the time needed to walk back and missing the train!)
I was given a warm welcome from Mark Lemm, the Reading YMCA chairman and managed to grab a chat with Stuart Cripps, long time YMCA supporter and sponsor. I also managed to catch up with Russ Taylor, the AFC Winkfield manager, who I first met on one of my very first matches as the Wandering Tractor!
Next up was a visit to the clubs kitchen and I ummed and ahhed over what to eat in my still fragile state but their new chilli range looked far too appetising to miss out on so went for a chilli dog which was always likely to be a “kill or cure” event, thankfully it was the latter! The two ladies serving were lovely and we spent some time talking about different food at various grounds in non league. The hot dog certainly didn’t disappoint, I managed to eat it without getting it all over my top which was a bonus, and it was great value for money at just £4.50.
So with a decent sized crowd it was time for the main event. Going into the match AFC Winkfield were sitting in 10th place in the table with 20 points from fourteen games, with their hosts one place above them, a point ahead but having played two games less.
Reading YMCA started the game quickly, Joel Burton’s pace causing the away defence early issues with them trying to play over the top for him to run onto but the visitors held a good back line, catching Burton offside. Jhamal Robinson curled an early free kick goalwards from just outside the box and it looked like Winkfield keeper Jake McKelvie had misjudged the flight of the ball but he just managed to get enough on the ball to clear.
YMCA continued to push their visitors back and a good Burton cross from the right picked out Joe Roff who tried to guide his header into the top corner only to see it drift just wide of the upright. The home side did manage to make the pressure count from a corner kick. Burton sent an inswinging corner from the right which evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net to give the hosts a deserved lead. 1-0
The home side continued to push forward with Roff shooting from distance after Luke Maze had won the ball back in midfield but his effort went wide of the far post. Next a short corner routine caught the visitors napping and gave Charlie Cooper a shooting chance in the box but his effort went wide.
AFC Winkfield slowly came back into the game and a free kick wide on the left saw Ben Palmer spill the ball but just do enough to clear as Ben Fuller looked to pick up ay pieces. Next David Neligwa twisted and turned in the area and pulled the ball back to Luca Odell but his effort sailed over the bar.
At the other end Burton finally beat the offside trap and raced clear, he hit an early left foot shot goalwards but McKelvie got down quickly to his right to save well.
Winkfield’s William Goddard tried to repeat Burton’s goal direct from a corner only to see his effort cleared off the line at the far post. Ryan Delaney then managed to rob the ball from a Reading defender on the edge of the box and tried to lift the ball over the keeper but it was too high. The last action of the first half saw Odell have a half chance inside the area and got his shot on target but the keeper got down quickly to turn it around the post.
A decent first half with the hosts making all the running early on, with the visitors coming back well to end the half strongly.
H-T: Reading YMCA 1 AFC Winkfield 0
Joe Roff was involved in an early chance in the second period for the home side but his snapshot was brilliantly blocked in the area. Cooper had the next chance as again YMCA started the half on the front foot, his shot cleared the bar after the initial free kick had been half cleared.
At the other end a lovely touch and flick on the left flank from Fuller released Saaim Rafi, he ran into the box but just got a heavy touch at the wrong time which narrowed his angle and he fired wide of the near post.
From a long kick Burton gambled and beat the offside trap and lifted the ball over McKelvie only to see his effort bounce narrowly past the post. A Fernando Rodriguez free kick found the head of Nick Reynolds but his flick header went straight into the arms of McKelvie as the hosts looked to put he game to bed.
The visitors came close again when Rafi won a free kick wide on the left near the byline. He put the set piece into a dangerous area but somehow two forwards running in towards the far post couldn’t get a touch.
Desperate defending from a corner by the home side kept their lead intact, the ball falling to Fuller but he saw his shot charged down in a superb last ditch effort by Robinson and the loose ball was hacked clear.
A long kick from the YMCA keeper saw a tussle between Winkfield’s Sam Brakebrough and YMCA’s Robinson which led to the two squaring up to each other. Referee Steve McMahon deeming the incident serious enough to give both players their marching orders.
Soon after the red card was brandished again as the home side were reduced to nine men, a rash high tackle by Rodriguez saw him sent for an early shower.
Winkfield had one final chance to salvage a point from the game when Rafi turned a defender inside out inside the box but he again chose to try a near post shot and the keeper managed to tip the ball away.
F-T: Reading YMCA 1 AFC Winkfield 0 Attn: head count around 65
A decent game in the spring sunshine with both sides creating plenty of chances but all too often missing the target. The visitors weathered the storm in the first twenty minutes of both halves and could easily have nicked a point but all too often seemed to take the wrong option in front of goal.
All in all a cracking day out and a successful start to FiB’s Hitting the Road initiative, I’m already looking forward to the next one! Huge thanks to Reading YMCA for their welcome and hospitality throughout the day and I wish both clubs all the very best for the remainder of the season.