CARLING CUP

MATCH REPORT

A combination of bad luck, poor defending and lack of finishing added to the frustration of the majority of the 8,000 crowd.

Watford were in front inside quarter of an hour when a clear penalty was awarded by referee, Mc Penton after captain Adie Williams fouled Bruce Dyer inside the box.

Neil Cox made no mistake from the penalty spot to put inform Watford in the lead.

The Royals could and should have been back on level terms after first Watford keeper, Richard Lee made his first mistake of the game after missing the ball on the edge of the box.

Goater picked the ball up and tried to loop the ball over the defender on the line but the ball came cannoning off the bar.

The rebound then fell to Bobby Convey and his fierce effort looked to be heading in only for it to be blocked.

Reading were to hit the bar again at the end of the first half. A corner by Paul Brooker aimed at Shaun Goater was headed by a Watford defender on to his own crossbar and the ball was cleared.

Half Time: Reading 0:1 Watford

The second half got no better for Reading as they struggled to create any real opportunities.

The best came with only ten minutes left when substitute Lloyd Owusu was put through only for the ex Brentford striker to put his shot wide.

The result was then confirmed when in the 90th minute,  a good run from Hameur Bouazza opened up an opportunity and the youngster drilled a shot into the bottom corner leaving Hahnemann with no chance. Most of the 7,000 Reading fans made their way to the exits.

The scoring though was not over yet as Watford scored again in the 90th minute to make the score line very flattering.

This time it was bad luck for defender Ivar Ingimarsson who put through his own net. After good work from Andy Ferrell down the wing.

Reading will be looking to bounce back on Saturday when they meet Watford again, this time at Vicarage Road. Details of the game are below.

Full Time: Reading 0:3 Watford

Man Of The Match: Paul Brooker

Not many candidates but Brooker continued to go forward and try and create.

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NEXT LEAGUE MATCH

25th September 2004, Vicarage Road, 15:00 PM Kick Off

Please Click Here for Ticket Information regarding this game.