Reading scored a remarkable victory against one of the top
clubs here in Amsterdam yesterday.
Playing Rotterdam, a side filled with players recruited from around the
world, Reading stayed with them play-for-play and eventually the matter had to
be settled by a one-on-one shoot out.
Reading came from behind twice, Tom Carson scoring the first, and
Richard Mantell the second with only a few minutes of play left.
At 2-2 , extra time failed to settle the matter, and so it
was on to a one-on-one shoot out. Reading got off to a bright start when
Rotterdam’s Nick Wilson failed to net their first attempt, but hero of the hour
was goalkeeper James Bailey, who swept
away Oliver Polkamp’s final attempt to give Reading the win.
A slightly down note to a entertaining match was in the form
of two serious injuries. Tom Carson received a lifted ball at short range in
the face and was taken to hospital. Earlier there had been a multiple pile up
which had resulted in Sjoerd Gerretsen receiving treatment on the pitch for what
appeared to be a neck injury. He left
the pitch looking extremely groggy and was taken by ambulance to hospital.
Latest reports are that both a doing well.
Those with a sense of history will appreciate how fate has
put through Reading to Round 3 to face KHC Dragon on Sunday. Despite a bright start, Lisnagarvey struggled
against Dragons in their Round 2 match yesterday and eventually lost the match
7-2. Sunday should see an epic struggle.
