READING MEN made a successful return to the top flight of English hockey with victory over Brooklands & Manchester University.
This nervousness was reflected in the early exchanges with both teams more intent in not conceding a goal rather than scoring one, but Reading dominated possession from the outset without threatening their opponents’ goal, and gradually grew in confidence to play higher up the pitch.
This almost led to their downfall when a quick break by Brooklands, with former Reading star Craig Falconer leading the charge, led to the first shot on goal, which the ever-dependable Chris Wyver in goal turned round the post for a long corner.
Reading maintained their more positive approach and were rewarded when a lightning break up the pitch, which was to become a feature of their later success in the game, ended with Tom Minall netting from close range with the Brooklands’ defence unable to get back to defend their goal.
Reading began to dominate midfield, stealing possession higher up the pitch with Brooklands’ defensive lines in disarray as they transitioned from defence to attack. Reading’s persistence was causing the visitors problem after problem, and Reading won the game’s first penalty corner shortly before half time.
Initially dismayed to note that both their primary penalty corner specialists were off the pitch, Freddie Newbold took responsibility and sent his flick low into the bottom left corner of the net with a rasping shot that the Brooklands’ keeper could only watch go by him. Freddie’s smile as he came off the pitch at half time told spectators all they needed to know about his delight.
Brooklands came out in the second half with a greater sense of purpose, and halved the deficit in short order to remind the newly promoted Reading of the difference in level that they will face this season, but Reading then restored their two goal lead within a minute to calm any nerves that might have been creeping in, Newbold finishing off another fine move down Reading’s right.
There then ensued a spate of temporary suspensions of players from both teams, starting with Reading’s Ryan Crowe and the visitors’ Craig Falconer being given green cards for a handbags incident off the ball, followed by two more Reading players to leave them with eight players on the pitch and their opponents having two extra players for a short time.
Reading defended well, though, and did not concede while they were numerically disadvantaged.
Restored to a full complement, they started to attack with more vigour and confidence, and once again broke swiftly up the pitch for Tom Minall to score his second goal of the game to secure the points and a precious win for the home team.
With time running out, Brooklands then went into full attack mode as they had nothing to lose and eventually scored a scrappy goal from short range to make the final scoreline look less convincing that the overall play of the match warranted.
Reading now have two away games over the next two weekends, both in Nottingham, but will travel with confidence and a better understanding of the necessary tactics to survive, maybe even thrive, in the Premier League.
Given that they have lost a couple of players from last season, and have two players out with injury, the unity within the group of players saw them through a potentially difficult game and was plain for all to see, which bodes extremely well for Reading’s future.
Report by Ronan Daffey
