Playoff Final - 2nd Division (Reading F.C.)

Member Name: David Lu

Product:	Reading F.C.
Date:	23/05/01 (146 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reading FC are great!, MASSIVE match to look forward to.

Disadvantages: Taste of our own medicine probably!

Just more than 6 years ago, 85 minutes into the 1st Division Playoff Final at Wembley saw Reading leading Bolton 2-1. The 86th minute was a heartbreaker. Bolton drew level to take the tie into extra-time and from there on, there was only going to be one winner. 4-3 was the final score, with Reading scoring a very late 119th minute consolation goal.

6 years on, and the stage is set! Facing Wigan Atheletic in the Semi-Finals of the playoffs, the climax of Reading scoring 2 late goals in the 86th and 93rd minute at The Madejski Stadium to take the tie 2-1 on aggregate. We're now faced with the daunting task of Walsall in the play-off finals. Having lost away to Walsall, and draw 2-2 at home (having thrown away a 2-0 lead), things aren't looking to good for the final at the Cardiff Millenium Stadium. Yet after all these statistics, the Bookmakers are still backing Reading as favourties to take the win. However, disregarding the two previous meetings between the two clubs, Reading thoroughly deserve to be promoted into the 1st division, and many would agree. Although we started off terribly, the last few weeks saw an intense battle between Milwall, Rotherham and Reading, with literally nothing to seperate the three clubs from this 3-horse race for the 2 places of automatic promotion.

Unfortunately, Reading petered out in the final 3 matches and ended up finishing 3rd, although still 5 points above 4th placed team, Walsall.

Alas, Sunday 27th May will be on the minds of many Loyal Royals. The 72,500 capacity seating at Cardiff, 40,000 seats have been allocated to Reading fans, hopefully to be filled to capacity! I am starting to have my doubts though. There are several cocky Reading fans who feel it necessary to invade the Walsall website and laden their message boards with abusive language and such. I have a bad feeling these supporters will be taught a lesson and ruin it for all the other 39,995 geniuine Reading supportes
at Cardiff.

Well before I sign-off, I'd like to commend the organisers of the match very highly, ensuring there are enough travel facilities for both sets of fans (First Great Western issuing an extra number of trains, Horseman Coaches for arranging 50+ coaches, etc.).

I'm really looking forward to Sunday's match and with players such as Rougier with his strength, Butler with his eye for goal, this match is certainly one to look forward to! If you're unlucky enough to not get tickets for this match, be sure to watch it on Sky and see me in the crowd! Probably crying though...we'll see!

Come on you ROYALS!

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Ok so now after the match, it seems that the cruel twist of fate has struck once again. Having taken the game into extra time at 1-1, one minute in, we score...YAY! However, with 10 minutes of extra time left before a promotion for the Royals, Walsall score twice in one minute! It seems the heavens are against us and we are condemned to yet another season in the 2nd division.

We will strike back...

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