Reading United News Release -- www.readingunitedac.com
Sunday, July 24, 2011
EWING, N.J. – Recently, Reading United has been struggling to find the gas pedal when they need it most, seemingly stuck in neutral. With a little luck, they still found themselves in position to snag another Mid Atlantic Division title and the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and ability to host those playoffs in Reading. This time, though, their lack of urgency cemented them in a play-in game against the Jersey Express on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. at Exeter’s Don Thomas Stadium as the Central Jersey Spartans took a 3-2 victory on Sunday afternoon in both team's regular season finale.
Reading found itself down early at The College of New Jersey, as Central Jersey tallied its first in the eighth minute. Spartan defender Greg Cochrane found space on the left side of the box and his pass across the box just missed the fingertips of Reading goalie Brian Holt, and instead found the right foot of a streaking Antoine Hoppenot for a 1-0 lead. They would tally their second right before the half in the 43rd minute, as defender RJ Allen was able to control a Brayan Martinez cross, and flip it past Holt for a 2-0 advantage.
The game winner was netted 20 minutes later, as Allen returned the favor, drawing the defense on the right side and sliding a cross to an unmarked Martinez.
This put Reading into a bonafide frenzy, netting goals in the 71st and 74th minutes. First, forward Chris Wheeler headed in a Matt Sanner cross to cut into the deficit. Soon after, a beautiful give-and-go between Christian Barreiro and Stephen Okai cut the lead to one, as Okai slotted one home.
A flurry of chances, including a Sean Peckham header that clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and bounced straight down onto the goal line, couldn’t find the back of the net. The United were dealt arguably their biggest blow late, as Matt Baker was issued his second yellow card of the match and will be ineligible to play on Tuesday’s match against the Express.
Tickets for the playoff match can be purchased at regular season prices ($8 for adults, $5 for children) on readingunitedac.com or at the gate. A victory against the Express would place the United in the PDL’s round of 16 for the fourth straight year, likely held at Long Island, who clinched the top seed with the Reading loss.