Reading FC endured a frustrating afternoon at the LNER Stadium, falling to a 2-0 defeat against Lincoln City in their last match before Christmas. Despite the valiant efforts of a ten-man squad, the Royals couldn’t overcome the early setbacks.
Early Setbacks for the Royals
The game kicked off under the chilly Lincolnshire skies, with 850 loyal Royals fans in attendance to cheer on their side. Lincoln City started brightly, with Sean Roughan testing Joel Pereira early on from long range. Pereira, nicknamed “El Gato,” managed to tip the shot wide, keeping the scores level momentarily.
However, Lincoln’s pressure soon paid off. In just the eighth minute, a long throw into the box caused chaos in the Reading defence, and Bailey Cadamarteri pounced to stab the ball into the net from close range.
Reading struggled to find rhythm in the opening exchanges, though they gradually began to grow into the game as the half wore on. The Royals had a strong penalty shout waved away in the 33rd minute when Sam Smith appeared to be brought down in the box, but the referee was unmoved. Moments later, Reading were reduced to 10 men as Louie Holzman was shown a red card for a last-man challenge on ex-Royal Ben House.
Uphill Battle in the Second Half
The second half began with Reading needing a Christmas miracle to salvage the game. Unfortunately, Lincoln kept the pressure on, and Ben House was unlucky not to double the lead when his shot struck the post early in the half. Minutes later, Pereira made another save to deny House’s header, but the Royals continued to be pinned back.
Despite their best efforts, Reading couldn’t hold out. In the 72nd minute, Reeco Hackett made it 2-0, sneaking ahead of the defence to score a first-time effort. Reading tried to fight back, with Harvey Knibbs coming close with a deflected effort and substitute Jayden Wareham attempting an overhead kick in stoppage time, but Lincoln’s defence stood firm.
Controversy and Frustration
After the match, Reading manager Noel Hunt didn’t hold back his frustrations with the officiating. He highlighted the “stonewall” penalty decision that wasn’t given, which he felt could have changed the course of the game. “It’s hard to understand how such clear decisions are missed,” Hunt remarked. He also praised his team’s effort in the second half despite being down a man, urging them to keep working hard and focus on future matches.
Looking Ahead
The result leaves Reading reflecting on a tough outing as they prepare to host Northampton Town on Boxing Day. With back-to-back home games coming up, the Royals will be hoping to bounce back and give their fans something to cheer about during the festive season.
Full-time: Lincoln City 2-0 Reading
Goals: Cadamarteri (8’), Hackett (72’)
Attendance: A loyal turnout of Reading fans provided unwavering support despite the disappointing result.
The focus now shifts to improving performances and picking up vital points as the season progresses.
The teams:
Lincoln City: Wickens, Darikwa, Montsma, Erhahon, Hackett, Cadamarteri (Draper 75′), McGrandles, O’Connor ©, House (Moylan 75′), Roughan, Makama (Ring 81′)
Subs: Hardington, Hamilton, Ring, Jefferies, Duffy
Goals: Cadamarteri (8′), Hackett (72′)
Yellow: House (55′), O’Connor (78′)
Reading: Pereira, Craig, Knibbs, Savage, Smith, Campbell (Wareham 80′), Bindon, Camara (Dean 40′), Wing ©, Garcia (Kanu 61′), Holzman
Subs: Button, Senga, Sackey, Osho
Yellows: Dean (55′)
Red: Holzman (37′)
