Tilehurst YM were dealt a devastating late blow as they fell 2 minutes short of claiming a superb point away to champions-elect Southcote. In the last minute of normal time, Southcote substitute Reuben found a yard of space to volley home past the helpless Tim Benham and break TYM hearts.
Up to that point, an understrength YM had uted their game plan perfectly, remaining compact and soaking up pressure before looking for opportunities on the counter attack. Despite a succession of corners and free kicks into the box in the first half, Benham did not have a shot to save. YM grew into the game beyond the half hour mark, using Briggs’ long throws to good effect to gain territory and put pressure on the Southcote back line. Dave Gill, flanked by Dan Offley & Andy Campbell were tireless in their pursuit of the ball. Despite a couple of YM openings late in the half, at the break neither side could claim to have created a clear goalscoring chance. 0-0.
As YM had discussed at half time, the second half saw the game become stretched and frantic as Southcote pushed on in search of the breakthrough. The space vacated in their half allowed YM more opportunities on the break and one such chance saw Ryan Nicol tease his way into the box before standing up a superb cross to D.Gill who headed the ball back across goal only to see it hit the bar and go over. At the other end, Benham was forced into his first save of the morning as a strike from just inside the box was beaten away as he moved smartly to his left hand side.
As the half wore on, Southcote became increasingly desperate for the winner but could not breach a determined YM back 4, marshalled by M.Gill and protected superbly by Mark Bolton and Joe Edwards. 5 minutes from time, YM spent their longest period in the Southcote third with a succession of corners. The last of which saw Campbell head back across goal to D.Gill who had peeled off his man at the back post. He chested down and looked certain to smash home from close range but he could not retain his balance under pressure and failed to make enough contact to beat the keeper.
Finally, late drama came when TYM were ironically dissected in open play after repelling a plethora of set pieces. Southcote, with 6 men beyond the ball had pinned YM to the edge of their penalty box. A smart move from the centre forward to drop off the back 4 and into a yard of space allowed him to tee up and flick the ball over the YM backline. Reuben had no choice to but strike first time on the volley first time as the ball came over his shoulder with Benham bearing down. A sweet contact led to jubilant scenes as the entire Southcote team sprinted to the corner to congratulate their super-sub. YM desperately threw men forward in injury and were caught on the break with what proved to be the last kick of the game. 2-0 the final score in a story of what might have been as the perfect away performance agonisingly slipped by.
