Reading exited the FA Cup in the third qualifying round after losing 2-1 at home to Brentford in an agonisingly close match.
The Bees must have thought they’d done enough when, with just six minutes of
normal time remaining, they doubled their lead. However, the Royals fought back with a very late goal from defender Keziah Banduka to set up a tense, grandstand finish, but were unable to convert from a corner in the last kick of the match.
The Royals were up against a Brentford team who travelled in confident form after a perfect start to the season, with this result extending their 100% winning record to nine matches in all competitions (seven of those in the tier-five London and South East league).
After an impressive away showing and win against Southampton last weekend, Reading manager Ed Jackson-Norris made only three changes to the starting line-up.
With goalkeeper Lilly Hadrava unavailable, Jess Webb was selected and stepped up for her debut. The teenager showed no nerves as she not only dealt with the occasion (and big build-up) of the FA Cup tie, but also in a match which was probably played in front of one of the biggest crowds of this round.
Tyra Wilson was unavailable too, cup-tied due to her dual-registration terms with Swindon Town, and Assia Fatri came in for Mia Parker. The Reading captain and midfield dynamo is nursing an ankle injury sustained from last weekend’s battling performance. Poppy Whitburn was the third change, starting at right-back, with Tia Johnson named among the seven substitutes.
Although finishing the match as unused substitutes, there were also first involvements for Mille Lamden and Amy Norfolk.
Team: Jess Webb (GK), Sarah Thompson (captain), Keziah Banduka, Bethan Poole (Georgia Hayes, 69) Poppy Whitburn (Isabella Rowden, 69), Jazz King, Lucy Bolitho (Lauren Knight, 80), Assia Fatri (Tia Johnson, 69), Nat Cowell, Keren Banduka, Ellie Manners
Unused substitutes: Sophie Butler (GK), Millie Lamden, Amy Norfolk
Reading goalscorers: Keziah Banduka 90+9
Reading yellow cards: None
Brentford goalscorers: Maddie Phillips, 13; Khyri McKenzie, 84
Brentford yellow cards: None
First half
The first half played out pretty evenly, with a 20-yard free-kick from Bees captain Phillips in the 14th minute the only difference between the two sides. 0-1.
Right from the off, fans were treated to what was to become a hard-fought battle from both teams as Bolitho found out (and gave back) in her early challenges in midfield, up against the physical frame of Brentford’s Liberty Morrice-Bartlett.
Brentford applied a bit of early pressure from a couple of corners, Reading goalkeeper Webb getting enough on the ball to punch clear and later relieved to see a deep in-swinger headed wide at the back post.
Reading applied some pressure of their own with captain Thompson’s headed attempt cleared to safety. And after some great work from Manners and Whitburn, player/coach Cowell was unable to control her strike, her effort going high and wide of the target.
For periods of the first half Brentford were unable to get control of the match, with the Royals’ midfield trio of Bolitho, Fatri and King, as well as the front three of Manners, Keren Banduka and Cowell pressing hard to push back the visitors, who struggled to get out of their half.
When Brentford did push forward it was from quick, countering football. The Reading central defenders were particularly impressive: the pairing of Thompson (strong and composed) alongside the fast and battling Keziah Banduka (who put in three or four perfectly timed, last-ditch sliding tackles) was a match to equal out nearly everything thrown at them.
Reading enjoyed success down the flanks too. Manners on the right and Keren Banduka on the left both threatened but were unable to find that killer pass into Cowell, Bolitho or Fatri in attacking positions.
Half-time: 0-1
Reading came out of the blocks quickest, setting the tone of what was to come, with two attempts from Keren Banduka in the opening minute of the second half. Her first effort looped over the crossbar and, when she found herself with a bit of space in the penalty area, Brentford goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders was out quickly to smother her attempt.
The pressure continued from an early Royals corner, Saunders again being called into action, punching clear from a Bethan Poole delivery. Brentford manager Carly Williams reacted to that pressure with two changes after just 10 minutes of the restart.
Keziah Banduka continued from where she left off in the first half: strong in the tackle and throwing herself into another recovery sliding tackle to thwart a Brentford attack on the hour mark.
Jackson-Norris was next to shake things up. First came an attacking triple change: Rowden, Johnson and Hayes entering the field of play in place of Whitburn, Fatri and Poole. Shortly after, he introduced Knight for Bolitho.
With Reading pushing for the equaliser, it was almost inevitable that gaps at the back would leave opportunities for the Bees, who moved the ball quickly in attack and capitalised on a moment of defensive indecision to double the lead.
Nippy Brentford striker Khyri McKenzie battled hard to win back the ball inside the Reading penalty area, reacting quickly to toe-poke her shot past a surprised Webb and into the goal with only four minutes of normal time remaining. 0-2.
If Brentford thought they’d done enough, they were wrong. Reading, undeterred, pushed on again and again.
A shot from Thompson went straight to the Brentford goalkeeper at her near post. Later, Keren Banduka connected well from a Hayes corner, but Saunders in the Bees goal was able to stretch and gather the ball.
With the scoreboard showing 10 minutes of time added on, Reading finished the match in overdrive and almost got their just reward for effort, character and never-give-up attitude.
In an almost identical attempt to earlier in the half, Keren Banduka’s run into the box was smothered by the outrushing Bees goalkeeper before being upstaged (which I’m sure she didn’t mind!) by her twin sister. While facing the wrong direction, Keziah Banduka audaciously and acrobatically back-heeled a Hayes free-kick delivery into the Brentford goal – to rapturous cheers of delight from the large contingent of Royals fans. 1-2.
With literally seconds remaining, the Reading crowd roared the players onto one more chance, winning a corner just as the 90+10 was up. The referee allowed the set piece to be taken and, with hearts in mouth, Hayes swung the delivery to the back post with Reading midfielder King connecting… but just unable to direct her header goal-bound. Unlucky.
Full time: 1-2
Although a defeat, it was a performance of which all the 15 players involved can be proud, and they should hold their heads high. Before today, Brentford had only conceded two goals.
It will be interesting to know how, physically and mentally, this match compared to the previous eight matches Brentford had played.
And it will also be interesting to hear Jackson-Norris’ reaction. It felt like Reading did pretty much everything right, but were just lacking that selfishness and clinical finish in the final third of the pitch.
Away from the FA Cup there was only one league fixture played, with Fleet Town thrashing Woodley United 7-0 at the aptly named Easy As HGV Stadium. Although Fleet Town are level on six points with Reading, the Royals remain fourth in the league, with a better goal difference and two games in hand over the Hampshire team.
The Royals are back in league action next weekend, Sunday October 12, looking to inflict more misery on Woodley United.
It’s an away match and one where fans can Walk and Talk, in support of mental health awareness, starting at 9.30am from the SCL Stadium and finishing at Bulmershe Pavilion (with pit stops along the route) in plenty of time for kick-off.
Reading’s manager Jackson-Norris and assistant manager Max Scott will be among those walking, with fans encouraged to wear their Purple Turtle shirts (or anything purple) and come together for what will be a great event organised in partnership with No5 Young People, STAR and Talking Royals. See you there!
