Reading

17th October 2000: Nationwide League Division Two

Reality Finally Catches Up With Makeshift Defence

Wrexham’s terrific unbeaten away run finally came to an end in the elegant surroundings of the Madejski Stadium, after a horrible beating at the hands of high-flying Reading. Bearing in mind the ragtag nature of a back four torn asunder by injury, it was no surprise that they succumbed to a Reading side who have been awesome at home this season: they have now scored 25 goals in seven home games and Martin Butler has scored 11 of them.

The woes of the visitors were summed up by the fate of Paul Mardon, brought in at short notice as emergency cover for the stricken Steven Roberts: he barely lasted forty minutes before sustaining a shoulder injury which might rule him out for the remainder of his month-long loan spell.

The writing was on the wall as soon as the sixth minute when Butler raced clear to beat the helpless Dearden from the edge of the area. Wrexham responded well, but conceded a terrible second goal to leave themselves facing an uphill task: a routine cross from the left by Robinson was missed by a sprawling Dearden, leaving Darren Caskey with an open goal at the far post which he breached despite treading on the ball to propel it feebly goalwards!

After Mardon sustained his injury, allowing Adrian Moody to make a league debut, Reading struck with two late goals to give the half time score an embarrassing look: first Caskey crossed for Butler to finish clinically; then Caskey snatched a second for himself.

To their credit, Wrexham kept their heads up in the second half, and gained a consolation goal when Craig Faulconbridge rose to meet a Martyn Chalk corner to head home from eight yards, but they departed depressed at such a heavy defeat, and needing to quickly regroup for the impending Welsh derby on Saturday.

READING: Whitehead; Newman (Murty 45), Viveash, Williams, Robinson, Jones, McIntyre, Caskey, Hodges (Gurney 82), Cureton (Igoe 69), Taylor. UNUSED SUBS: Smith, Mackie.

WREXHAM (4-3-3): Dearden; Williams, McGregor, Mardon (Moody 42), Bouanane; Chalk, Ferguson (c), Barrett; Edwards (Gibson 90), Faulconbridge, Sam (Morrell 79). UNUSED SUBS: Rogers, Owen.

Referee: Mike Riley

Bookings:
	Reading	Wrexham
	Newman (Foul, 11)	Sam (Foul, 53)
		Ferguson (Kicking ball away, 58)
		Chalk (Foul, 61)

Attendance: 10,350

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