Sevenoaks Men's 1st team travelled to Reading on Saturday evening for a top of the table clash against the league leaders.

Sevenoaks were up for the game and started with a ferocious intensity. Oaks' leading goalscorer Andrew Ross was perhaps overly keen to make his mark early on, earning himself a five minute sin bin just a few minutes into the game for a late hit on the Reading centre back. Sevenoaks managed to adjust accordingly and were able to neutralise the Reading threat - no mean feat when the home side were averaging five goals a game so far this season. Sevenoaks suffered a further setback at the end of the first quarter when defender James Beck pulled up with a hamstring injury, booking himself a week of appointments with the increasingly popular treatment table.

Throughout the second quarter Sevenoaks had plenty of possession and dictated the tempo. Some slick interplay created a good opportunity for Ali Taylor at the top of the D which was well saved by the Reading goalkeeper. Sevenoaks also won a couple of short corners but the Reading defensive unit stood firm. Some fantastic pressing and team defence from Sevenoaks meant the free scoring Reading failed to create many opportunities, with only one real breakaway chance saved by the ever faithful Richard Potton.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with Sevenoaks dictating the play. Craig Morton and Chris Barker moved the ball well at the back, forcing the Reading forwards to do a lot of running and creating space in the midfield for James Thomas and Ian Haley to feed the ball forwards leading to further opportunities. Unfortunately for Sevenoaks they were unable to convert their chances and the third quarter drew to a close with the score remaining 0-0.

With ten minutes left to go in the fourth quarter Reading were awarded a controversial short corner which was flicked hard into the bottom corner to give Reading the lead. Sevenoaks upped the intensity and stepped out looking for an equalizer. Oaks engineered a few half chances but were then caught on the counter attack as Reading capitalised on an overly exposed and tiring defence. A good cross from the right wing was deflected into the top corner to give Reading a 2-0 lead with just minutes to go. Reading won a further short corner right on the final whistle which was well saved by Potton’s stick.

Overall a good performance by Sevenoaks against the favourites for the league title, and on another day it could have been a very different result.

Sevenoaks are back at home against Teddington on Sunday 7th November at 2pm.