Match Report
Reading
M Camara (20)
C Savage (59)
A Akande (65)
C Campbell (93)
C Campbell (96)
Harborough Town
F Robinson (18)
R O'Sullivan (21)
K Tonga (86)
Falling behind twice against the run of play to an organised and resilient Harborough side in
the first half, Reading recovered after the interval to take the lead through goals from Savage
and Akande. Fifteen minutes from time Reading were reduced to ten men when Kanu was
sent off. With nothing to lose, a man advantage, and three thousand fans roaring them on,
Town equalised through Tonge four minutes from time. It looked ominous for Reading, but
they hung on until full-time. Early in extra time Town were stunned by two fine goals from
Chem Campbell and never looked like coming back and Reading progressed into the 3rd
Round.
For most of the first half, Wing and Elliot were pulling the strings in midfield and Town 'keeper Taylor made several good saves as Reading carved out chances inside a packed penalty area. Wing took every opportunity to find space just outside the box to take a pop at goal, but either missed the target or was foiled by Taylor. After twenty minutes, a rare excursion into the Reading half produced a corner for Town, and Robinson nodded home a routine cross dropping into the six-yard box which any goalkeeper would be expected gather. The lead lasted less than two minutes. Camara was credited with a scrappy goal from inside the box. A minute later Harborough's most dangerous weapon, the long throw restored their lead. Town won two successive headers and the ball dropped to O'Sullivan who finished from close range.
Reading made changes at half time. Savage and Craig replaced Camara and Elliot. Almost on the hour, Savage finally found a curling strike of real quality from outside the box to beat Taylor. Six minutes later Reading took the lead for the first time when Akande pounced to tuck away a loose ball in the box. That should have been game over but Kanu's clumsy challenge on the half-way line resulted in a second yellow and Reading were down to ten men and Town pressure produced an equaliser from Tonge. Reading survived an uncomfortable fifteen minutes, and the game went into extra time.
Sam Smith warmed up and stripped off ready to come on for extra time and then disappeared down the tunnel. Clearly Seles obviously did not realise he had already used made the maximum number of substitutions!
In the end it did not matter. Second half substitute Chem Campbell rose to the occasion. Having switched to the left side, the young winger scored twice in the opening three minutes of extra time to knock the stuffing out of Harborough with strikes which underlined the difference in class between the sides. Town 'keeper Taylor had made a string of magnificent saves throughout the match but was beaten by the quality of Campbell's finishing. The ferocity of the first strike sent the ball into the roof of the net off his outstretched arm. For the second, Campell ran diagonally past the Town rearguard and drilled his shot just inside the upright, again giving Taylor no chance. They were goal worthy of winning the tie and so it proved to be the case.
With Town looking tired and demoralised they simply could not raise their game sufficiently to come back again, even against ten very weary men. Harborough went out but could feel proud of their performance.
John Wells
For most of the first half, Wing and Elliot were pulling the strings in midfield and Town 'keeper Taylor made several good saves as Reading carved out chances inside a packed penalty area. Wing took every opportunity to find space just outside the box to take a pop at goal, but either missed the target or was foiled by Taylor. After twenty minutes, a rare excursion into the Reading half produced a corner for Town, and Robinson nodded home a routine cross dropping into the six-yard box which any goalkeeper would be expected gather. The lead lasted less than two minutes. Camara was credited with a scrappy goal from inside the box. A minute later Harborough's most dangerous weapon, the long throw restored their lead. Town won two successive headers and the ball dropped to O'Sullivan who finished from close range.
Reading made changes at half time. Savage and Craig replaced Camara and Elliot. Almost on the hour, Savage finally found a curling strike of real quality from outside the box to beat Taylor. Six minutes later Reading took the lead for the first time when Akande pounced to tuck away a loose ball in the box. That should have been game over but Kanu's clumsy challenge on the half-way line resulted in a second yellow and Reading were down to ten men and Town pressure produced an equaliser from Tonge. Reading survived an uncomfortable fifteen minutes, and the game went into extra time.
Sam Smith warmed up and stripped off ready to come on for extra time and then disappeared down the tunnel. Clearly Seles obviously did not realise he had already used made the maximum number of substitutions!
In the end it did not matter. Second half substitute Chem Campbell rose to the occasion. Having switched to the left side, the young winger scored twice in the opening three minutes of extra time to knock the stuffing out of Harborough with strikes which underlined the difference in class between the sides. Town 'keeper Taylor had made a string of magnificent saves throughout the match but was beaten by the quality of Campbell's finishing. The ferocity of the first strike sent the ball into the roof of the net off his outstretched arm. For the second, Campell ran diagonally past the Town rearguard and drilled his shot just inside the upright, again giving Taylor no chance. They were goal worthy of winning the tie and so it proved to be the case.
With Town looking tired and demoralised they simply could not raise their game sufficiently to come back again, even against ten very weary men. Harborough went out but could feel proud of their performance.
John Wells