v Charlton Athletic X1

[Reading Rebel]

22 man squad which includes some trialists and some from our Academy.

[Curtis]

I didn’t manage to get to the match this evening, but would be interested to hear from someone that was….. what happened that lead to us conceding twice in the first 6 minutes?

Did we change formation, tactics or any defenders to steady the ship & get back to 2-2 by half time?

[Bernie Gogan]

Very competitive Charlton side, gave us a tough game. Hit us on the break when we were wide open to take a 2-0 lead. After that we got into the game and it wasn't a typical pre season game by this time. Lenchy scored a cracker and Dyce was brought down for a pen., which Johnny Goddard converted. A very enjoyable first half ended 2-2, probably a fair reflection overall.

Second half we had a complete swap out, a new 11, mainly very young lads some of whom I didn't know the others more familiar. Leon C-P scored a cracking goal to level up at 3-3, but an own goal gave the win to Charlton. This is the nature of pre-season, changing of players and continuity broken by substitutions. Nevertheless the second 11 did themselves credit and were perhaps a little unlucky not to get a draw. 

Fact is that the main squad players got 45 mins each and hopefully there are no more injuries!

[Reading Rebel]

It looked like we were playing 3 at the back + 2 wing backs and for the first 5 minutes we were a bit like rabbits in the headlights caught out by the pace and skill of Charlton often being outnumbered.

Things then calmed down and we got back into the game with Lenchy scoring a beauty and a penalty from Johnny Goddard.

With all the changes from both sides and but for a couple of defensive lapses we held our own second half with Leon placing an excellent strike into the top corner.

 

[Reading Rebel]

Attendance given out as 470.