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PICTURE: AFC Reading scored six goals for the second weekend in succession to beat Pundit 6-0 on Saturday and remain at the top of the East Berkshire League Premier Division table.
AFC Reading made it back-to-back wins in the East Berkshire League Premier Division and scored six goals for the second weekend in succession after a 6-0 victory against Pundit on Saturday.
Pundit did not help themselves with numerous defensive errors, and a young Reading side capitalised to secure a decisive win and stand at the top of the league stable at this very early stage in the season.
The first chance in the match at the George Pitcher Memorial Ground fell to Pundit inside the opening minutes as centre back Delroy Hughes headed over the crossbar when unmarked at a Ryan Partington corner kick.
Partington then had the awareness to spot Brandon Moody off his line and attempted to lob the Reading goalkeeper from 35-yards, but his effort lacked the necessary power and the stopper backtracked to catch the ball.
Reading then had two opportunities at goal in the 10th minute of the game; first Reece Jones did well to control a cross into the box from the right wing, but his lobbed effort to the near post was narrowly over the crossbar. Seconds later, a loose ball inside the box fell to Ian Addae, but his low shot was well side of the near post.
The visitors broke the deadlock thanks to the persistence and composure of Charlie Smith. The striker put pressure on Camarl Gruper and stole possession from the Pundit defender inside the box before finishing past goalkeeper, Jake Wells.
Reading had the chance to double their advantage soon after when Jones beat two challenges to break down the left wing, but his low right-foot shot was an easy save for Wells in the Pundit goal.
Smith did score his own and Reading’s second goal in the match after another mistake from Gruper in the 41st minute. The Pundit defender dwelt and wanted too many touches in possession. This allowed Smith to steal the ball and finish low past Wells from just inside the box.
AFC Reading punished another Pundit mistake to add a third goal two minutes later. Wells spilt a tame free-kick and Sam Ingamells was quickest to react for an easy tap-in from close range.
Pundit almost pulled a goal back before half-time with a header to the far post from a corner kick, but Reading keeper Moody pushed the effort onto the crossbar with a strong right arm.
The home team needed to cut out their mistakes to have a chance of getting back into the contest but almost gifted Reading another goal just three minutes into the second half. Goalkeeper, Jake Wells mis-kicked his goal kick straight to Charlie Smith, but the stopper recovered to make a save inside the box. Reading had another sight at goal from the resulting corner kick, but substitute Mitch Dowson headed down but wide of the near post.
Pundit then had a rare chance at goal when Reading centre back Joel Stevens failed to properly clear a long ball forward, but Jack Poole looped his shot over the crossbar - perhaps not knowing how much time and space he had.
PICTURE: Pundit scored six goals in a win on the opening weekend of the new season but, multiple defensive errors cost the team in a 6-0 defeat to AFC Reading at George Pitcher Memorial Ground on Saturday.
The visitors kept on attacking the Pundit goal and, after Dowson headed wide of the far post from a corner kick, Smith completed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute. The striker’s initial low shot to the near post was saved well by the legs of Wells, but the loose ball fell to Smith and he fired in powerfully at the second attempt.
AFC Reading thought they had scored a fifth goal midway through the second half as Dowson was played through and poked home, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The impressive Smith came close to adding to his personal tally for the match with a shot to the near post, but it was blocked bravely by the recovering Camarl Gruper.
Reading were then awarded a penalty as Smith showed great footwork to get inside the box and was fouled by Pundit substitute, Cavan Gruber. Reading captain, Luke Chappelle, stepped up and dispatched the resulting penalty to the right of the keeper on 78 minutes.
The visitors should have hit the back of the net again when Pundit gave away possession and Ollie Martin beat two defenders to have a clear sight at an open goal, but he shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Reading did make it six with the goal-of-the-game from Ryan Lumley in the 83rd minute. Martin showed great power in possession to drive forward down the centre of the pitch, beating two tackles to find Lumley. He cut inside from the right wing and picked out the far top corner with a curling left-foot shot from 25-yards.
Pundit: Joshua Birtwistle, Adam Durrant, Kingsley Etefia, Delroy Hughes, Lloyd Kwaramba, Tyrone Markman, Tanatswa Matambanadzo, Ryan Partington, Jack Poole, Harry Turner, Jake Wells (GK).
Substitutes: Cavan Gruber and Glen Mugo.
AFC Reading: Ian Addae, Luke Chappelle (C), Max Harding, Josh Hester, Sam Ingamells, Ollie Martin, Brandon Moody (GK), Charlie Smith, Joel Stevens, Reece Jones and Kuba Staniszewski.
Substitutes: Jake Bennett, Mitchell Dowson, Ryan Lumley, Joe Pocock and Harry Smith.
Player-of-the-Match: Charlie Smith (hat-trick)
Entertainment Rating: ***
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