By Mark Sugar
April 14 2004

Brian McDermott's Reading Reserves have been crowned champions of the Pontius Holiday Combination League after beating Gillingham 1-0 at Priestfield Stadium in dramatic circumstances.The Royals went down to 10 men after Johnny Mulins was sent off and Kelvin Jack saved a 87th minute penalty.

Reading Reserves have been crowned Champions of the Pontius Holiday Combination League after beating Gillingham 1-0 at Priestfield Stadium in dramatic circumstances.

Academy player Ryan Catney put the Royals ahead in the 2nd half with a cool finish but the Royals went down to 10 men in the 87th minute after Johnny Mullins had been sent off for fouling the Gillingham player. But Brian McDermott has new signing Kelvin Jack to thank after saving the penalty which secures the title.

Congratulations must go to Brian McDermott and to the players, mostly backup players and academy ones. But its worrying that not enough of them appear to have been given a chance. Take Omar Daley for example. Since the arrival of Steve Coppell Omar has been left out and never received his chance once. Some of the players below have been regular's

• Andre Boucaud
• Omar Daley
• Louis Soares
• Jamie Ashdown
• Jamie Young
• Dean Morgan
• Dave Kitson

From next season their will be a restructure of the academy league's with the age gaps moving to the Under 18's and Under 20's. This had previously been the Under 17's and Under 19's. The reserves play their matches at the Madejski Stadium on a Wednesday afternoon, and if the pitch isn't in the best condition then they make the short journey to Didcot Town Football Club's Loop Meadow Stadium.

Once again congratulations to the players and staff.