A Showcase Match win will help A.F.C Reading secure their Premier Division status for next season

PICTURE: AFC Reading were promoted from Division One to the Premier Division in the summer, and a win in the Showcase Match event this Friday night would put them 10 points clear of the relegation zone. You can purchase a ticket for the Showcase Match at our discounted rates now, just click the link https://tktp.as/EXRDIC.

A.F.C Reading joint-manager Paul Digweed believes a win in the Showcase Match on Friday night will mean the team is a step closer to maintaining their East Berkshire League Premier Division status.

Reading finished in sixth position in Division One last season, their best-ever finish in the league, and were promoted to the top-flight following a restructure in the summer.

Some might have predicted relegation for the young team in this campaign, but back-to-backs wins against Cookham Dean and Pundit at the start to the season have been followed up with successes over Frontline and Chalvey Sports before the Christmas Break.

It means Reading arrive at the Showcase Match in eighth position in the Premier Division table and with a healthy seven points gap on the relegation zone. And, Digweed is confident a few more positive results in the second half of the campaign will be enough to keep them in the top flight for another year.

The boss explained: “The first half of the season has been very up-and-down, and results have been dependant on the numbers we get for the game each week.

“No real targets were set at the beginning of the season as we didn’t really know where we would stand after being promoted to the Premier Division, but we’re enjoying being there and the aim is to be there next season.

“The target was to stay in the league and, hopefully, with a few more good results in the second half of the season, we can achieve that, starting in the Showcase Match.

“A win in the Showcase Match would be another step closer to us cementing our position in the league for next season, and take us forward into some really tough games coming up.”

PICTURE: Kids go for a quid when wearing their Sandhurst F.C. Royals or A.F.C Reading shirts to the Showcase Match event at the Arbour Park Stadium this Friday night (7.45pm kick off)

Reading arrive at the Showcase Match with two wins and three defeats from their last five matches in all competitions, but their chances should be boosted with no concerns over injuries and suspensions on Friday night.

Digweed explained: “Our form coming into the game is the same as it has been all season, very up-and-down, but we should have a full squad to chose from and hope to get the win.

“The players are excited to compete in such a wonderful stadium and in front of, hopefully, a good crowd. The team just needs to go out and enjoy the occasion, play the football we know they can and show the crowd was A.F.C. Reading is about, playing good football and in a good manner.”

Charlie Smith will be the main danger for A.F.C Reading in the Showcase Match on Friday night, the young striker has scored eight goals in 15 appearances so far this season. Mitchell Dowson will be another the Sandhurst defence need to keep tabs on having found a route to goal six times in 13 games this season.

Reading were thrashed 5-0 at the hands of Sandhurst Royals in the First Round of the League Cup competition early on last season, and were soundly beaten 6-3 when the two sides next met in Division One last April. Digweed and his men got some manner of revenge with a 4-3 win in the reverse league fixture two weeks later. This will be the first meeting between the two sides this season.

Digweed commented: “We played Sandhurst twice in Division One last season and had two very tough games against them. They’re a very good, technical team, that likes to play good football. This is similar to ourselves, so hopefully it should be a good game to watch for the spectators.”