By CCFC Sid
March 28 2004

Having been impressed by CCFC's demolition of PNE, Steve Coppell had obviously instructed his players to kill the game as a spectacle, and make sure CCFC's recent brand of flowing, attractive football was broken up - sadly for people that like their football attractive and worth watching it worked. Disgraceful time-wasting tactics, and ridiculous over-reactions to the most innocuous of challenges helped Reading cheat their way to a totally undeserved three points at Highfield Road. Whereas the ball is probably usually in play for around 70 of the 90 minutes in a normal match, Reading's tactics probably made it nearer 45 in this one.

Some Reading fans had the audacity to say the referee was on CCFC's side - these idiots obviously turning a blind eye to half-a-dozen blatant penalty appeals. Said referee also had enough reasons to send off Reading's Ricky Newman, who was allowed to get away with three disgraceful shows of dissent in about five minutes.

The referee also allowed any Reading player that was injured to receive treatment ON the pitch - even if they were only yards away from the touchline, and able to walk off to be treated. Does he not know the rules were changed a good few years ago?

Ashdown in the Reading goal was making only his eighth start for the club, and was given far to many routine catches to make, with CCFC needing a lanky, battering ram type of player to make their crosses count - sadly, Lowe's international clearance did not come through in time. Had it, this could have been another Highfield Road rout - sadly, without him, any hopes of finishing in the Top Six have probably disappeared....

Joachim's first touch was once again missing (Which I thought wasn't supposed to happen 'til AFTER he's got a new CCFC contract!), while substitute Olszar looked nothing like the potential great Eric Black had described earlier in the week. And CCFC might have done slightly better had the management not tried to put too many square pegs in round holes....

CCFC started well enough, but having earlier watched Leeds miss a "stick on" goal or two and end up losing, CCFC did the same, and were made to pay. After nine minutes, a feeble Salako free kick eluded everybody, and somehow ended up in the back of the CCFC net - something the former CCFC reject rarely managed in his time at Highfield Road (Usually opting to miss from anywhere around the six yard area, let alone 30 yards out).

Soon after, Doyle was booked when Kitson fell over, with Hughes going down minutes later after a soft Joachim challenge - though his reaction suggested that he had been hit by a sledge-hammer. Minutes later Doyle considered pulling the shirt of a Reading player that threatened to burst clear of the CCFC defence, but decided against it, knowing that this would probably result in more ridiculous histrionics, and a red card.

Having bought both of these over-reactions, the referee then failed to award CCFC a penalty after Gudjonsson was clearly fouled in the penalty area - despite being only yards away from the incident.

McSheffrey then sent a free-kick just over the Reading bar, and on 39 minutes a CCFC corner was headed goalwards by Callum Davenport, only for a Reading defender to clear off the line (Apolgies for not knowing many of the Reading players names, but they are hardly legible on the back of their shirts). Had this chance gone in, Reading might just have been forced to join in with this match....

Another example of disgraceful unsportmanship from Reading came minutes before half-time. Yet another of their players dropped to the floor after the slightest of challenges, and, for reasons best known only to CCFC, they put the ball out for a throw-in (Despite being on the attack), allowing the player to receive treatment he didn't need. Reading took the throw, and hoofed the ball 50 yards down the line for a CCFC throw-in. Normally at this point in any match, the opposition would back off, and allow the throw to go back to the opposing keeper, allowing the other side to start again from the back - but not Reading.

Jumpin Jaks staff were classed as half-time entertainment, but with a large section of the 15,811 crowd booing them (Again) when they finished their routine, it is surely time for the club to dispense with this unnecessary annoyance!! It entertains nobody....

Five minutes into the second half, a McSheffrey header hit the bar, but, with the ball falling around the goal-line, disappointingly, nobody had bothered to follow-up. Had the referee been Russian rather than inadequate....

Reading then went 2-0 up, with possibly their only attack on goal throughout the match. Sidwell left some CCFC fans wondering about the merits of including Konjic in the starting XI again, storming past him with ease, and crossing for Goater to finish (I hadn't realised Goater was even playing until this point in the match!).

Sidwell was sent off a minute after helping Reading extend their lead, receiving his second yellow card of the match - this time for a foul on Doyle. Reading fans protested, but Sidwell's challenge on Doyle looked far more worthy of the referee's attention than anything else Mr. Butler had whistled for during the previous 55 minutes.

More evidence of Reading's disgraceful time wasting came to the fore, with Sidwell taking over a minute to take the short distance off the pitch, and he was still five yards on the playing area when the match continued - what would the referee have done had the ball gone out wide, and he became involved?

Davenport, who had looked CCFC's best threat in attack for most of the afternoon was clearly punched in the head by Ashdown as a cross came in, yet the referee once again somehow missed the incident, and failed to award CCFC a(nother) penalty.

Reading had quite clearly "shut up shop" and were clearly trying to keep the score at 2-0 (Though seemed to have shut up shop from the first minute), but a Gudjonsson corner was headed on by Davenport (Who played as a striker for the last 20 minutes), and McSheffrey finished off - despite the fact the ball was going in anyway!!

In the 73 minute the referee once again ignored a blatant penalty appeal, with one of Reading's defenders obviously momentarily believing he was in goal. Minutes later he booked McSheffrey for diving, when it seemed obvious to most that all McSheffrey was guilty of was stumbling - as plenty of players had done all over the pitch all afternoon. Idiot....

Steven Warnock smashed an effort just wide with six minutes remaining, and was then replaced by Barrett. Barrett took and and beat the Reading defence with ease on three occasions, then sent in three extremely disappointing crosses - anything better, and CCFC would have taken a point.

Just before full time Gudjonsson was clattered in the area, but, possibly fearing that the man in black would book him for daring to fall over (How sad he didn't bother doing this to Reading's entire team), despite having actually been touched by an opponent, he got straight back up again.

CCFC are currently trying to persuade the "stayaway" fans to come back to Highfield Road, but it would be no real surprise after watching another dire performance by the men in black, not to mention the most negative tactics possible from the opposition, if they stayed away for the forseeable future - and longer....