U9 Vipers
In a closely contested game, Rotherfield twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with a strong South Reading side. Both previous encounters between the teams had been tough games and this one proved to be no different.
Having lost last week's game, things looked ominous for the Vipers when Reading got off to great start with a goal inside the first few minutes. Rotherfield responded in the best possible way though with a lovely flowing football move that saw the ball pass from Morgan Green to Jack Stevens and then to Adam Fearnside who slotted the ball in to pull the scores level.
The Vipers could have edged ahead when a dangerous Green corner was fired inches over the bar by Fearnside, but then South Reading were denied at the other by a fantastic Isaac Hylton save from a well-hit shot that seemed a certain goal.
Rotherfield again looked to take the lead when another sweeping move, this time involving Liam Ruiz and Nick Swan, led to another Fearnside shot which was just a whisker wide.
Reading had more chances of their own, but superb defending from Kalhan Shah and Jack Williams kept the score at 1-1 until half-time.
After the break, Reading drew first blood when an awesome shot from distance rebounded off the bar but was then forced in from the edge of the box.
Again, the Vipers showed good character and five minutes later managed to grab a second goal; this time, Fearnside collected the ball at the half-way line, rounded an opponent and smashed in a wonderful strike from distance. Moments later, Nick Swan came perilously close to adding a third with an effort that narrowly missed the top corner after a good ball in from Owen Lowe, but then Reading almost grabbed the winner when a shot squirmed underneath Hylton, only to see it cleared off the line by Williams.
A thoroughly entertaining game ended 2-2 - the same scoreline as earlier in the season. The effort award was given to Jack Williams for another solid display in defense.
Photos
Squad
Isaac Hylton, Jack Williams, Kalhan Shah, Morgan Green, Nick Swan, Owen Lowe, Liam Ruiz, Adam Fearnside, Jack Stevens