30 September 1998  Walsall
0 Reading 2 |
|
Howie, Crawford, McPherson, Parkinson, Primus, Casper, Brayson,
Caskey, Williams, Glasgow, Brebner.
Tommy
Burns!
All samples
are Real Audio format - you'll need Real Player.
GOAL 1: WILLIAMS
GOAL 2: BREBNER
YES! YES! YES!
How could we have doubted! ;-)
A sixth minute goal from Martin Williams, followed by a header half way through the second half by Grant Brebner, earnt Reading all three points AWAY at Walsall tonight - to end the run of 15 straight away league defeats. At last. A scoreline I never thought I'd see. Reading's first win for 8 games too.
Bits and pieces of reports follow:
From Football365:
Once the lively Martin Williams had taken advantage of
slackness in the home defence to fire the visitors in front
after just eight minutes, a shock always looked likely.
Walsall had won their previous three games but could not
find a way through a determined defence in which Linvoy
Primus and Chris Casper were outstanding. They should
have been level in the 52nd minute but, with only the keeper
to beat, Darren Wrack smashed his shot against a post.
Reading made sure of the points in the 66th minute with a
cleverly taken short corner, Jimmy Crawford crossing
perfectly for Grant Brebner to head powerfully into the roof
of the net.
From Yahoo:
An injury hit Reading side were up against a Walsall side who could have
gone second with a win tonight, but goals from Martin Williams and Grant
Brebner gave the Royals an excellent 2-0 victory, and a possible turning
point in their so far miserable season.
Reading took the lead after only 8 minutes, when Darren Caskey found
Martin
Williams with a long ball, and the midfielder finished coolly to tuck the
ball beyond Jimmy Walker for his fifth of the season.
Walsall's Paul Simpson twice went close from distance, while Andy Rammell
also came close, as did Jason Brissett who clipped the bar.
Into the second half, Darren Wrack hit the outside of a post, while
Reading
substitute McIntyre hit the side netting.
Then the second goal came along for Tommy Burns' side on 66 minutes, when
Grant Brebner glanced home Crawford's cross past Walker.
Viveash headed just over, Howie saved well from Rammell, and Keates shot
just wide for the home side, while Reading could have added to their two
goal lead when Walker saved from Williams and McIntyre, and Caskey fired
over the bar.
Williams was booked, but even that couldn't detract from a really
excellent
night for the Royals, and the ridding of that appalling run of away league
defeats in front of a crowd of 3,729, with the minority of them no doubt
celebrating well into the night.
Walsall blew their chance to go second in Division Two
when they were beaten by struggling Reading at Bescot
Stadium. It was a terrific boost for the Royals who had lost
their previous 15 away games.
The small band of Royals' fans who were at the Bescot Stadium tonight were
all going home celebrating, not to mention pinching themselves after
seeing
their team record a rare away win after 15 away league defeats on the
trot.
League
3,700