Lemons Squeezed Out By Royals

This weekend was the second qualifying round of the Women's FA Cup. The choice of games involving Southern Region teams was vast and I would have loved to have been at all of them. However, I finally decided on the clash between newly-promoted South East Counties Surrey Premier side, Manorcroft United, and the new-look Reading side from the Southern Region Premier. Manorcroft were entering the FA Cup for the first time and after being awarded a bye in the previous round, this was to be their first ever FA Cup tie. United won the Surrey Division One title last season with a 100% record, although they did lose their opening Premier League game 9-0 to last season's runners-up Carshalton Athletic. Something of a baptism of fire. Not a bad draw for their first ever FA Cup game either. Don't forget that Reading were a WSL team until 2023.
The Royals effectively started from the ground up last season and, after a difficult start, were hitting some form towards the end of the season. They've made wholesale changes to the playing staff again over the summer. They started their league campaign with 4-1 defeat of Badshot lea but then fell 2-1 to a rejuvenated Beaconsfield side in their second game. The two step difference in favour of Reading made them clear favourites.

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Reading looking for a goal

​The early encounters, whilst not producing any serious efforts at either end, showed that Manorcroft were certainly not here just to make up the numbers. In fact, they settled much quicker than Reading, who struggled to get going in the first few minutes. However, as we headed towards 15 minutes, the visitors did start to pick up the pace and were the first to seriously threaten when one of their many summer signings, Keziah Banduka who joined with her twin sister Keren from Ascot United, played in Assia Fatri who dragged her shot wide of Gemma Taylor's goal.
Four minutes later Reading took the lead and it was a goal made and scored by two more summer editions, both coming in from Maidenhead United. Right winger Ellie Manners was sent clear before sending over a low cross that Tia Johnson finished well. 0-1 A minute later the maidenhead connection paid off again. This time today's captain Mia Parker, also signed from The Magpies, played in Ellie Manners who slotted low past Taylor. 0-2
From looking a little shaky to being two goals in front in the space of just over a minute, Reading were showing the Premier League credentials and the home side were left rocking a little. It could have been worse too. Midway through the half, Mollie Dench had the ball in the United net again, only for an offside flag to chalk it off. Home goalkeeper Gemma Taylor then made a good save from the same player to keep the score at two.
Credit to The Lemons though, they dug in and around the half-hour mark were very unlucky not to pull a goal back. Sophie Butler made a good stop from Grace Farmer and, in the ensuing scramble, both Farmer and last season's top scorer Millie Dufton had efforts block, all amidst some claims for a handball in the melee, before the ball was cleared for a corner.
Dufton's running from midfield combined with Farmer's willingness to pull the Reading defence around, was causing some problems, but the Royals stood firm, marshalled by centre-half Sarah Thompson, yet another signing from Maidenhead.
Reading did come close once more before the break when Johnson put Manners in the clear again, but this time the winger couldn't find the target.

HT Manorcroft United 0 Reading 2. Two goals in two minutes put Reading in charge. However, Manorcroft showed enough to display that they could pose a threat if The Royals took their foot off the pedal.

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Georgia Wilson tries her luck from a free-kick

​The second half, with Reading going down the slight slope, was always going to be a challenge for the home side. Despite giving a good account of themselves in the first half, they had spent a fair amount of time chasing the ball, so you'd expect them to begin running out of steam at some point.
Reading, for their part, were showing no sign of sitting back on their laurels. They came close to extending their eld just before the hour when Tia Johnson fired just over. The same player then had the ball in the net only for the assistant's flag to once again cut short the celebrations. Gemma Taylor then pulled off a superb diving save to thwart Ellie Manners, before Natalie Cowell also came close for Reading.
It wasn't quite one-way traffic, but Reading were certainly stamping their authority more in the second half. Manorcroft were not making it easy for them by any means though, still snapping into tackles and fighting for every loose ball.
However, on 73 minutes, Reading effectively sealed their progress when Lauren Knight sent substitute Keren Banduka clear. She steadied herself before slipping the ball under Taylor. 0-3. The tie was now decided but Manorcroft were not going to go out with a whimper. They continued to defend solidly and bravely. Gemma Taylor, at one point, threw herself into a sea of feet to smother a loose ball in the 6-yard box, but they couldn't hold Reading out completely. With six minutes to go Fatri slipped in Keren Banduka on the right and her ball across the face of goal was tapped in by Natalie Cowell. 0-4. Four minutes later it was five when Cowell added her second, heading in from Johnson's left-wing cross. 0-5.

FT Manorcroft United 0 Reading 5. In the end it turned out to be a fairly comfortable win for Reading. However, that was not the tale of the first half in particular. Manorcroft started the stronger and also had other patches where they could have got back into the game. Reading took full control in the second half but, to their credit, the Lemons never gave up and were still chasing down balls late into the game, even when five goals down.
Next weekend both sides are back in league action. Manorcroft make the journey to Croydon whilst Reading on the South coast as they visit Southampton Women

Manorcroft United: 1.Taylor, 2.Stewart, 18.Smithers, 6.Jennings, 5.Lyne, 9.Wilson(c), 21.Steer, 14.Reid, 17.Palmer, 22.Farmer, 23.Dufton. Subs: 3.Gough, 4.Benford, 24.Edwards, 10.Austin, Bearne
Reading: 1.Butler, 2.Rowden, 4.Kez.Banduka, 5.Thompson, 7.Manners, 10.Fatri, 12.Hayes, 18.Johnson, 19.Parker, 21.Dench, 22.King. Subs: 3.Whitburn, 6.Poole, 8.Knight, 9.Cowell, 11.Ker.Banduka, 17.Lane, 20.Bolitho

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Coopers Hill

​The Ground
Manorcroft United Football Club is based at Coopers Hill just to the north of Englefield Green and less than a mile from Runnymede water-meadow where the Magna Carta was sealed in 1215. There's a pay and display car park directly in front of the club where the first three hours are free, so time it right and you won't have to pay to park. I believe the club also opens up some land between the football club and tennis club for parking, although I didn't make us of it today. Entrance to the ground is through the main two-storey building that houses changing facilities and, on the top floor, the bar. This area also has a balcony with views over the multiple pitches. Directly in front of the clubhouse there are a number of small sided pitches. The main pitch lies beyond the small-sided pitches and sits alongside another pitch that looked to be a junior 11-a-side setup. Both of these purpose-bult pitches have dugouts on the outer sides and are surrounded by barriers, with the main pitch also having plenty of advertising hoardings over the barrier fences. This means that both pitches are enclosed on three sides with the adjoining sides open to each other. The pitches slope slightly away from the clubhouse end, but the playing surface looked to be in pretty good condition.
I'm not sure if it was the occasion encouraging more of the local community to the ground today, but it had a real family feel to it. There were kids of all ages wearing Manorcroft shirts, some of whom had probably been paying earlier in the day and had come to watch the ladies. A really nice ground that's well worth a visit.

Ground Number: 461
Att: 
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A