It’s quite hilarious that this competition is now sponsored by a product that isn’t physically available in the UK yet.
Given that little fact, it’s a miracle we managed to get over 1.6k through the turnstiles for a format (and competition) that is rapidly losing its credibility. Fair play to the club for giving out free tickets to certain membership categories, but it’s not on them to sell these games, really.
Would we get more in if we weren’t having to play ‘elite’ under-21 teams? Maybe. But either way, the whole evening was pretty bleak.
I managed to time my entry to the seated bowl just as the players were entering the field of play. Elite timing, that. The first-teamers were sat behind me, which I think is a good thing to see, in terms of them supporting the fringe and few youth players that were involved.
Reading (4-2-3-1): Stevens, Ahmed, Knight, Masterson, Dorsett; Fraser, Savage; Williams, Hicks, Kyerewaa; Brown
Subs: Rowley, Beacroft, Osho, Mfuamba, Evans, Jones, Howard
We started OK. We made inroads into their final third, we looked reasonably aggressive in what we were trying to do and, ultimately, didn’t look like we’d collapse in the manner we did.
Charlie Savage had a go, David Hicks smacked a header goalwards and we had a well worked free-kick which was called as offside.
And then on 20 minutes, Jack Stevens fumbled a pretty basic ball, allowing Chelsea to take a 0-1 lead. We became like one of those expensive toy bears that doesn’t have any innards. If only there was a phrase to describe deflation and despair in the context of a cuddly toy filling.
Shortly after that, Conor Masterson joined in on the defensive circus. It looked like a slip but, regardless, the goal was too easy to concede and the visitors were in full control. 0-2.
In the aftermath of the second goal, and once play had restarted, I heard Savage shout “it’s too easy” as anyone around him failed to put in a tackle. He was right, it was.
Despite us having more attacking chances, we couldn’t make them count against a youthful outfit who I’m sure couldn’t believe their fortune at being 2-0 up.
Half time: 0-2
As the players made their way into the changing rooms for half-time, I wondered if there was a way back into the game. Chelsea were in control, not fussed by the occasion (why would they be?) and clearly pleased with the scoreline.
The interval was made worse by the music selection on offer, which honestly felt like a crap disco no one asked to be at – it always makes me laugh, given how many songs are actually available, that people choose the ones they play.
It was defo genre night, which did nothing to cheer the mood.
We showed a bit fight in the second half, namely through Ashqar Ahmed with the number 62, and then Boyd Beacroft as soon as he came on.
There were some OK individual peformances – Ahmed, Josh Knight (back from the dead) and Hicks, with Savage creating chances and Daniel Kyerewaa giving a little bit in terms of attack.
Ultimately though, the overall performance wasn’t good enough, even without the two gifts we gave them.
It’s a competition we all would have liked to progress in, but now looks unlikely, given the points and goal difference involved in our table. It’s a shame but a wasted opportunity that the bulk of the players on show last night failed to take.
As for Jersey Mike’s mega sandwiches, it remains to be seen whether they’ll catch on. It’s a bold marketing strategy asking to sponsor a competition with a product no one knows anything about. Give me LDV Vans or Johnstone’s Paint any day.
Until next time.