Looking Back: 22-03-2003

Nicky Forster hit his 13th goal of the season and that was enough to give ten man Reading the three points over Bradford and keep the promotion hopes alive.

Forster was the leading scorer at the time and he pounced to claim another and the points halfway through the second half.
Before that Nathan Tyson had been sent off as half time approached for his second bookable offence.

The Royals dominated the first half at Valley Parade, but Marcus Hahnemann was tested a couple of times at the start of the second period.

Bradford had already had a warning from Reading when John Salako fired narrowly wide, but on 65 minutes the visitors took the lead.

A back-pass by David Wetherall put Aidan Davison in allsorts of trouble, his attempt at a clearance fell to Forster who ran into the area and flashed a shot past the keeper for 1-0.

It was no more that Reading deserved, especially Forster who had already hit the post late in the first half, and Tyson shredded the defence open time and again, but Reading couldn’t find the net.

Until Forster took his chance that is.

Reading lost their next match at home to Brighton before slamming five past Preston the following week. But that’s another story.

Bradford: Davison, Uhlenbeek, Wetherall, Bower, Jorgensen, Francis, Atherton, Lawrence, Reid (Standing 75), Gray, Forrest (Muirhead 70).

Subs Not Used: Walsh, Fishlock, Ekoku.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Brown, Viveash, Shorey, Harper, Newman, Hughes, Tyson, Salako (Igoe 67), Forster (Henderson 90).

Subs Not Used: Watson, Cureton, Ashdown.

Att: 11,385

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

Were you at this game? why not tell us what your memories are on the message board.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.