It was difficult to know exactly how Bracknell Town would match up against a youthful Reading side in the Berks & Bucks County FA Senior Cup on Tuesday night, but leaving the ground there was certainly a feeling of ‘what might have been’.
Shamal Roberts opened the scoring for the Royals in the first half while Joel Jacobs saw a free kick canon off the bar and there was a decent chance for Kensley Maloney in a half that was largely played in the middle of the Larges Lane turf.
The second half flipped on the introduction of Bracknell striker Adam Cornell and a switch to two up front. Cornell almost immediately had a chance but it was Joe Gater who could easily have had a hat trick on the night.
Gater rose well on several occasions from corner kicks as Bracknell ramped up the pressure and there were chances for wingers Joe Grant and Seb Bowerman.
See our full gallery of Neil Graham images from Bracknell vs Reading here:
Bracknell had started the game in lightening fashion and it was certainly questionable as to whether they could keep it up, the Robins did though and none more so than the youthful trio of Grant, Bowerman and Maloney.
Related: What happened when Bracknell met MK Dons
Reading did eventually relieve the pressure, substitute Ben House found space in the closing moments to round Bracknell goalkeeper Mark Scott as the Robins pushed for the equaliser.
The match proved to be a fine spectacle for the 1,173 spectators in what proved to be Carl Davies final match as player manager. The club released a statement to Football in Bracknell confirming he had stepped down but would continue to play.
The club also confirmed that anyone showing a ticket stub from the match, would gain free entry to Saturday’s important home tie against Hayes & Yeading United in the Bostik League.
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Main image: Joe Grant by Neil Graham.
