Fleetwood Town Fans Verdict: In The Hat
11/04/2024 03:26 AM
The fans had a comfortable win to react to as a youthful Royals wide progressed to the next round of the cup.
We were all hoping for.a more of an exciting first-round fixture than Fleetwood Town at home. I don't know, perhaps something like Harborough Town at home? (More on that later).
Fleetwood at home is what we got though, and we had to do our job, which we did.
It was a scrappy game in truth. I haven't seen the stats but I'd imagine we had most of the ball but there were no real periods of pressure on the opposition goal from either team. However, we made our moments count and that was the difference in the end.
Here's how the fans reacted...
Into the third round
As mentioned the most important thing from Saturday was to get through to the next round.
The atmosphere was really strange at the crowd; before the game it felt a bit like we were about to watch an open training session rather than a game, but the players got through the potential banana skin nicely.
It was by no means a great game for the neutral, but the job got done and the fans were happy about that...
We are on our way to Wembley urzzzzzz have a lovely evening #readingfchttps://t.co/Va0UXBbdrG
— Johnny Hunt (@Huntyroyal) November 2, 2024
Might seem a routine win, but that's a job well done with a really young side. #ReadingFChttps://t.co/tXXg1mjlh0
— Alex Sheppard (@Alex_Shep_Urzz) November 2, 2024
@BBCBerkshire not a pretty game by any means, both keepers with some good saves but into the hat #readingfc
— Pipey (@matt11p) November 2, 2024
Nice win in the cup for young squad that averaged an age of 19.8 years-old for the outfield players.
— RFC Latest (@RFCLatest) November 2, 2024
Hopefully a decent draw in the next round.#readingfcpic.twitter.com/MluGpnsDtj
Wealdstone, Bromley….Swindon. The possibilities are literally endless #readingfcpic.twitter.com/HuVM2xDSx8
— Ben Thomas (@mrblthomas) November 2, 2024
Promising performances from the youngsters
The game was always going to be a chance for some of the academy boys to get a chance in the first team. Truthfully, it was a surprise not to see a few more given a go.
Louie Holzman, Ashqar Ahmed and Shay Spencer were the three to really make their first proper appearance in front of the Reading faithful, all of whom did adequately enough.
They will face tougher tests than Fleetwood in the coming months for sure, but the fans enjoyed seeing them get a run out...
Have to say what a performance from Ashqar Ahmed today. Easily my man of the match and gave 110% in every dual, looked a real threat on the right. Into the hat for the second round, hopefully a decent away draw! #ReadingFC
— Joe (@iJC106) November 2, 2024
After watching Ahmed today, he can definitely play RWB, him and Garcia would cook as wing backs #readingfc
— Glyn (@GlynBull) November 2, 2024
Very comfortable. Shay Spencer the pick for me. #readingfc
— Nick Knight (@NJK20171) November 2, 2024
I thought Holzman was excellent
— South Coast Royal (@SouthCoastRoyal) November 3, 2024
Won the ball high up plenty of times. Intensity of Wareham final third pressures has helped. Button's been outstanding in goal. #readingfc
— Ji-Min Lee (@JmlJourno) November 2, 2024
Second-round draw
It says a lot about how eventful Saturday's game was that reaction to Sunday's draw has made it into the Fans Verdict...
However, in any case, Harborough at home is one hell of a tie. I believe they're the lowest-ranked team left in the cup, and if Saturday's game falls into the 'banana skin' category, then this one definitely does.
From a personal point of view, getting them away from home would've been nicer, but hopefully we can pack out the SCL. Or at least get more than 2,500. Here's how the fans reacted...
Harborough at home! An exciting draw for once! #readingfc
— chloe (@_chloerfc) November 3, 2024
Fantastic draw shame it wasn't away #readingfc
— Mark Sugar (@marksugar) November 3, 2024
Very happy with that draw. Great chance to go through to the 3rd round. #readingfc
— Rob Molloy (@Dobchecks) November 3, 2024
Wow, what a tie that is for Harborough. Hopefully (and a big hopefully), we don't underplay it and get through to Round Three #readingfc
— Jacob Potter (@pott95) November 3, 2024
Finally a fun tie! #readingfchttps://t.co/RStDnquIbw
— george (@talkmurtytome) November 3, 2024
Best possible tie. Guaranteed to be televised and almost no chance we lose at home against the lowest ranked side left in the competition. Brilliant news.#Readingfc
— Matt (@lines_aviation) November 3, 2024
Conclusion
I'm not going to lie: as you can probably tell, I was struggling to find many tweets for this game. But if there's ever a game for that to happen, a first-round home tie against a team in the league below in front of a crowd of about 2,500 is probably the one.
It was a shame to see the ground so empty. At the end of the day it's still a chance to go and watch your team play, but I guess it's a sign of the times - both in terms of where the football club is, and where the FA Cup is.
However, being drawn at home to the lowest-ranked team in the competition rescued it somewhat. What a tie that is for Harborough, but there's already that looming sense of dread building in me.
We have previous with games like this don't we? *Cough* Kidderminster Harriers *cough*.
