Isn't Reading

Down at The Beveree, something is a stirring. 13 league games without defeat and 7 straight wins in all competitions mean that Alan Dowson's men find themselves just two points off the top of Vanaramamamamama South. Drinkers at The Jolly Coopers could be sharing their space with the good folk of Chesterfield or Wrexham next season. Of course, they have won nothing yet but this current run is a credit to all involved. Imagine how good they'd be if they could actually understand the Manager. They would have the title wrapped up by Christmas as well as the Boat Race and Paris Dakar wrapped up too.

Perhaps buoyed by the success of the Senior Team the newly formed side, the snazzily named Hampton and Richmond Borough FC Youth Colts Under 13s travelled west with confidence despite a record of one win and three defeats in their first four league games. Moreover, they were facing the league's top scorers, the Scorpions of South Reading. Still it was that the squad felt a confidence inconsistent with their stuttering start.

The co-gaffers had been pressing refresh on Gotfootball in to the small hours of Saturday morning and then again from daybreak. Would those in the corridors of power at the East Berks FA interrupt their week end and flick the switch to activate Seif El Massri for the journey West? At 07.18 GMT the "v" appeared and we had our answer. We travelled with 13 and with hope.

In every league, cup and friendly match this season we have at least matched our opponents yet the results haven't backed that up. Someone was going to get turned over. If not today, then soon.

With new striker Jacob settling in like a latter day Zbigniew Boniek; Bertie Ferguson resembling Vinnie Jones minus the nose biting of Daily Mirror journalists; Seb Lawson a nimble Dennis Wise; Kaya and Charlie, Hampton's answer to Adams and Keown we started with great tempo. Like the Senior Team, we are the sum of our parts rather than a collection of skillful individuals. All over the pitch the players fought for each other as though their phones, Pokemon cards and sugary cereals depended on it. One nil up on two minutes quickly turned into two and a third was added by El Massri on the stroke of half time. The sight of the opposition's star midfielder who had been shackled by the mercurial Arvinho and Bertie disappearing from view in a Datsun Sunny at half time, shift prematurely over, provided the perfect encouragement for these spirited boys.

If a two nil lead is dangerous, a three goal one is positively lethal yet a fourth fashioned from the very best Wimbledon route one catalogue steadied nerves and allowed us to tinker with positions and encourage more free flowing football. Overlapping full back play, marauding runs from centre backs, neat interplay between the keeper and the back four all kept the healthy Hampton following entertained and the goals had not finished. A brace from Seb joined the same from new signing Seif and a hat trick from Jacob. 7-0.

It felt today as though the season had finally begun. The Carpenters could almost be heard from the other side of Chubbies bacon roll emporium. We now have the squad we envisaged when embarking on the journey with a strong bench and managerial selection head aches a plenty.

Let's see how the Senior Side progresses over the rest of the season. I have a feeling that they are building something special. We might just be creating our own little bit of glory if today's form continues. Like a tenner found in an old pair of jeans, it really was a little bit special.

South Reading Scorpions FC 0

HRBFC Youth Colts 7

Jacob 3
Seif 2
Seb 2

MOTM Bertie

Attendance 37
Weather Grim.