News and Views
Goal From Lane Earns First League Win
30 August 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Paddy Lane swept home the only goal of a scrappy game to secure Reading's first league victory of the season against a Vale side also seeking their first win of the season. Lane had a steady game playing wide on the right, but mid-way through the second half produced a moment of true quality. Drifting inside, he found the top corner with his left foot from the edge of the box leaving Vale 'keeper Gauci rooted to the spot. It was a superb strike by the Royals new signing, which demonstrated he possesses a valuable asset, particularly for a wide player, the ability to strike the ball well with either foot.
The opening phase of the game was particularly scrappy, littered with misplaced passes by two sides still struggling to embrace the challenge of adjusting to an influx of new signings. Ahmed was getting forward to good effect. His persistence and direct running were causing the Vale defence problems. He delivered a couple of good crosses which might have produced an early goal. The first fizzed across the six-yard box eluding outstretched legs, and the second was wasted when O'Mahony tried to hit across the line of flight of the ball and missed the ball completely. A better option would have been, given the distance from goal and the pace of the cross, to attempt to deflect the ball past Gauci.
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MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Port Vale 0
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