There was no instant recovery today for County on their travels, as Dave Challinor`s team went down to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of a resilient Reading side at the Madejeski Stadium today.

Both teams had their moments, but neither looked likely to add a finish to claim the spoils until Lewis Wing won the game , for Reading ,with as convincing a strike as you are likely to come across ,in the 89^th minute.

The defeat was a massive disappointment to the travelling County fans who , buoyed by a series of incredible saves by Ben Hinchliffe, thought that a point was the least they could expect from the game.

It was not to be, and they learned the hard way that 100% concentration and effort is the minimum requirement for survival at this level, switch off however momentarily and you`re undone!

County did not get their tackles in, as pressure mounted in that 89^th minute, and paid the price!

…………………………..

A fairly quiet opening sprung to life 4 minutes in, when Kamari Doyle headed for the County box where Jack Hunt blocked his path with a solid tackle.

The home specs wanted blood ….( Hunt`s), but the ref did really well to ignore the hubbub and give County the free kick , which I thought was spot on.

It took County 3 minutes to reply, but after winning a corner with some lively approach play, they promptly wasted the flag kick.

Another minute…another chance….this time to Mothersille , who was played in by Wootton, it looked a decent opening, and the Reading cover was blown , but sadly Malik sent the ball wide of goal- chance gone!

Fevrier was emerging, once again, as County`s primary supplier of dangerous moments, but he missed out when going close 2 minutes later.

It was 4 minutes before Reading could respond through Dan Kyerewaa ,but he found Hunt in position to deny him and concede a corner.

This ushered in pressure by the cart load for the green shirted blues, and they had to be keenly on their toes in reply- Hinchliffe particularly so -punching clear under pressure…..Hills in the correct spot to block the follow up .

Not a lot happened in the next 5 or 6 minutes, the next action seeing Doyle make good progress deep into County`s half for Reading. He was blocked, but then found Kyerewaa , who looked in a better place to profit until his shot was saved with some style by Hinchliffe!

We then saw the other side of Ben`s game, as a brilliant long ball from him, sent Tayo Edun dashing clear down the left . He made it to the by line, and the cross that followed was a good one , but Mothersille could not put the chance away!

Reading came back at County following that last action, a series of long throws forcing DC`s men back - they needed to defend like their lives depended upon it, and that`s what Hills , Woots and Osborne did with a run of vital blocks to blunt the home sides assault.

But , despite County looking altogether in better shape than they had done last time out, I found myself vexed and perplexed next as a seemingly excellent break by Fevrier down the right from deep, saw the move switch flanks before ending up with the ball passed slowly back to Hinchliffe!

The lack of a clear will to `have a go` at the sharp end , sacrificed upon the altar of caution and timidity -it really was frustrating !

We went beyond the half hour with County defending , but not that well – Hinchliffe having to pull off a fine last gasper to deny the dangerous Jack Marriott. The offside flag then went up, but Ben did not know that !

Back came County with Mothersille combining with Fevrier, who then skinned his markers ( 2 of them) before the move went pear shaped and he was blocked.

It went on ,with Norwood calling the shots …putting Diamond through , but he was eventually dispossessed- the same outcome awaiting Woots with the follow up.

The remainder of the half was a procession of chances spurned….

Wing blazing the ball over the bar for Reading with County retreating before them……

County replying via Edun who supplied Diamond with an excellent pass which he sent cross the box and out…..

The blues then over finessing a neat move that gradually faded away before our eyes…..the half ending with the game still scoreless.

…………………………………

The second half seemed to be a somewhat humdrum affair at the start, – Woots closest for County in the opening 8 or 9 minutes but not close enough to turn a decent Edun cross into a goal……Kyerewaa following suite for Reading missing out on the end of Yiadom`s intuitive pass.

Neither team were showing any sharpness where it mattered- Diamond typifying this aspect with another disappointing finish on the end of some distinctly promising approach play just before the hour mark.

Fev`s saw a shot deflected for a corner on the hour- County`s burgeoning hopes dashed as both Hills and Osborn saw their follow up efforts charged down in the box.

We were now beyond the hour, and the support from County supporters for their team was at its heights now- could the team respond?

Paudie O`Connor , uncompromising in Reading `s cause, certainly responded , going into the ref`s book for a crude elbow across the head of Wootton.

We expected much from the free kick but , despite it being deflected for a corner, County made nothing of it – any perceived chance was gone!

Then , with 20 minutes left ,the Ref was replaced by the Fourth Official- I did not clock what had happened and did not feel any joy about the change as the ref had done a decent job in my view!

I then watched with annoyance to see Fevrier starved of passes in consecutive County raids- both time it was Hunt who elected , despite Fevs positioning himself perfectly ( not offside) , to play the ball cross or back rather than to County`s most potent attacker.

I have liked much of what I have seen of Hunt whilst he has been with us, but this aspect ( and it must be said he is by no means alone in this) disappoints me.

I brightened up , upon seeing that Andressen was coming on in place of Mothersille , who I thought again showed another slight improvement in his play,

Kelvin Ehbrationham was now on for Reading also, and quickly in the mix only kept out by an excellent tackle by Brad Hills.

County came under pressure from the follow up- Wing wasting a real opportunity for the Berkshire side by lifting his shot over the bar.

A reply came back from County but without the required ruthlessness of execution on the end of some reasonable approach play- Edun and Osborn`s work wasted as the ball went tamely into home keeper Joel Pereira`s arms.

At the other end, Ehbrationham was warming up- stopped in the box though by a superb block from Pye.

It was end to end now- County quick to counter – Diamond winning a corner- Hills beating the keeper to the kick beyond the back post but then heading over the bar.

With 5 minutes left County replaced Fevrier with Bailey.

The change did not make a positive impact; indeed Hinchliffe had the intensely busiest period of his game pulling of 2 fantastic saves in rapid succession to keep Reading out- it was a close call!

Diamond then , tried and failed narrowly to pick out Andresson in the box ,and I was beginning to feel we would get at least 1 point from this game ,and Ben would have earned yet another priceless clean sheet…when…calamity……………….

County were forced back – by a long throw defending well for starters but then allowing the ball to drift out to Wing who wasted no time whatsoever in blasting a fine strike beyond anything that Ben Hinchliffe , or anyone else in green, could produce to keep it out, into the net.

Reading were 1 up, and their fans went suitably AS in response!

That was almost smack on 90 minutes ,and 8 minutes time added was announced almost immediately after.

County made valient efforts to claw their way back to parity in those 8 minutes.

There was much frustration to point to ,but I will suffice with a few examples of what went down in the game`s dying embers.

The 91^st minute saw County get an arguably valid penalty claim turned down as Burns leant on Andresson in the box forcing him to the ground. I saw it as a penalty -the replacement ref did not !

Three minutes later, Bailey went close – the home keeper in difficulty the offside flag offering him comfort…..

Much frantic attacking followed from County- Andresson unlucky to see his drive blocked by Dorsett, with the stadium clock showing 98 minutes.

Eventually the final whistle brought the game to close.

County had lost, and another less than joyful journey home awaited us.

That was disappointing for sure, but , whilst still below par, the performance was definitely slightly better than the previous game.

How do we now convert `slightly better` into performances that will put smiles on our faces and points in our locker?

Over to you DC !

Reading FC line up :-

Pereira , Dorsett , Marriott , Savage , Wing , Kyerewaa , Burns , O`Connor , Yiadom , Doyle ( Fraser 62) ( Ehbrationham 76), Ritchie ( R Williams 62) .

Unused subs : Stevens , Stickland , Canada , Ahmed.

Stockport County line up –

Hinchliffe , Hunt , Hills , Pye , Edun , Osborn , Norwood , Fevrier ( Bailey 85),Mothersille ( Andresson 76), Wootton , Diamond.

Unused subs : Wogan , Olowu , Edwards , Gardner , Astles .

Attendance : 11703 (816)

hedgegrower

Crod/Supporter Shot Gallery....