By Matthew Grant
November 30 2003

Reading collected all three points thanks to a late strike from Reading hotshot, Steven Sidwell. It looked like Reading had settled for a disappointing point but up stepped Sidwell to get Reading back on track. Steve Coppell made a number of changes to the side that played so poorly at Burnley in the week. Ricky Newman, James Harper and Scott Murray were all dropped. Replacing were John Mackie, Kevin Watson and Bas Savage.

Reading started brightly and carved out there best chance of the half when a Kevin Watson corner nearly deflected into his own goal but a good save from on loan Pidgley kept the ball from hitting the net. Reading looked far more creative going forward then in recent weeks thanks to good work from Kevin Watson and Sidwell in the middle. Watson who is currently on the transfer list, is looking to show why he is good enough to replace Harper in the middle.

Although Reading looked lively there was always the threat of a Watford counter attack with Danny Webber giving the Reading defence a number of problems. Watford’s best opportunity fell to them a few minutes before half time. Webber looked like e had done all the hard work to create a chance but just before puling the trigger John Mackie made a vital tackle to keep the score goalless. Mackie who was playing his first game in six weeks because od an operation looks like he is finding his best form back which had given him the captains armband at the start of last season.

Half Time: Reading 0:0 Watford

Into the second half and Reading looked to score the opener but Watford were increasingly looking dangerous when going forward. In particular good work from both wingers, Lee Cook and Paul Devlin. Though it was Reading who finally opened the scoring. Bas Savage flick the ball onto Andy Hughes who in turn flicked it on to Nick Forster. It looked an over hit pass and that the Watford goalie would claim it but as he was coming out Watford captain Cox was forced into a header which went pass him and into the back of the net. A piece of luck that Reading had needed. Nicky Forster then said after the game that the ref would let him claim the goal, but it had clearly come off the head of the Watford skipper. Reading now looked in control but sonly a few minutes later Watford managed to get back in the game. Great work from Paul Devlin again down the wing got him to the by-line where he produce a sublime ball to the back post which was met by the foot of Lee Cook who smashed it into the net.

Reading were running out of ideas so Coppell through Scott Murray and Nathan Tyson on to try and create something and with only a few minutes left, it worked. A scramble in the box which Watford could not clear eventually fell to Sidwell who fired the ball into the roof of the net, via a slight deflection. The majority of the 14,000 crown went wild to another chorus of Tom Hark….ohm what a song!

Full Time: Reading 2:1 Watford