Emirates FA Cup Second Round
Reading FC 5-3 Harborough Town
Sunday 1st December, 2024
By Cristian Bratu
Reading FC 5
Mamadi Camara (20′)
Charlie Savage (59′)
Adrian Akande (65′)
Chem Campbell (93′)
Chem Campbell (97′)
Harborough Town 3
Freddie Robinson (18′)
Riley O’Sullivan (22′)
Kai Tonge (86′)
After a superb performance at the home of League 1 Reading, Harborough Town’s magical cup run has come to an end following a loss in extra-time, though yesterday’s result feels nothing like a defeat to those in yellow. As the players emerged from the tunnel to warm up to the chorus of applause and chants from the near 3,000 Harborough Town faithful who made the journey, the sense of occasion became apparent even before kick-off. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Mitch Austin emphasised how his side needed to embrace what was “the biggest match of our careers”.
The Bees certainly began proceedings with that intent after enjoying an early chance from Riley O’Sullivan who was eventually adjudged to be in an offside position. Predictably, the home side, 104 places above in the league pyramid, began to control possession and a powerful effort from Ben Elliott was well-matched by the diving Elliott Taylor, a save that was met by rapturous applause by the travelling support. That applause would get much louder soon after as a brilliant Josh Walsh corner was headed home at the far post by Freddie Robinson to stun the home crowd and give non-league Harborough the opener. The Royals bundled the ball over the line through Mamadi Camara moments later in what was an instant reply, but O’Sullivan kept his composure in the box following a Paul Malone knock-down and fired the ball into the bottom corner to regain the lead for his side and cap off a crazy period of three goals in as many minutes. Staying compact, with debutant Sandro sitting deep in midfield, the Bees defended resolutely and limited the hosts to long range efforts, the best of which from Reading’s player of the year last season, Lewis Wing, was tipped over the bar by Taylor as the cup-set was on at half time with Harborough in the lead.
The hosts, having made a double substitution at half-time, improved following the break and after a couple of warnings from Charlie Savage were parried away by Elliott, the Manchester United Academy graduate curled the ball into the far corner from distance to put Reading level for the second time in the match. O’Sullivan, who proved to be a nuisance to the Royals defence throughout the game, used his strength well on the wing to hold off Basil Tuma, before whipping in a glorious cross that fell a matter of inches wide of the far post as the stretching Ben Stephens came agonisingly close to connecting with it in the box. Following a scramble in the Harborough box, the ball fell kindly to Adrian Akande who completed Reading’s comeback with his first goal for the club, but the final period of the game became far from easy for the hosts as a second booking for Abraham Kanu saw the Bees handed a man advantage. Substitute Dan Forbes forced David Button into a smart save at his near post as the Bees were in the ascendancy and the “magic of the cup” that Austin spoke about ahead of the game came to life with five minutes left on the clock as a second Malone knockdown was guided on the turn and over the line by Kai Tonge, sparking celebrations that will be remembered for a lifetime by everyone associated with Harborough Town. Deep into added time, things almost got better for the Bees, but Malone was incredibly unlucky not to have been able to head in what would have been a last-minute winner as the score remained 3-3 on the final whistle.
Despite being down to 10 men, Reading showed their calibre in the first half of extra-time and a quick fire double from Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Chem Campbell put the hosts in command, as Reading saw out a 5-3 victory to put their name in the pot for the next round.
Celebrations following the game, however, came from those in yellow as players, staff and fans all celebrated an incredible achievement together. It felt like a culmination of all the hard work that everyone has made to get the club to where it is now – taking League 1 Reading to extra-time away from home in the FA Cup Second Round.
The overriding feeling is not one of disappointment, but immense pride of the historic run that the club has been on, and optimism for the season ahead and beyond. If this run has taught us anything, it is that anything is possible and all of the success that the club has enjoyed in recent years may only just be the beginning… #UpTheBees!