Photo: Courtesy of Glenn Riegel/Reading United

Rested and ready for the business end of their season, Reading United return to Premier Development League action on Friday with a match at Albright College’s Shirk Stadium. Winless in their last three matches and clinging to the Mid-Atlantic Division’s final playoff spot, United welcome the Bermuda Hogges to town for a 7pm kickoff. Bermuda have struggled in league action and come to town with just one win in eleven matches. Can you say “slump buster”?

2012 Records

Reading United:    6 – 2 – 2  (3rd place in the Mid-Atlantic Division)

Bermuda Hogges:  1 – 8 – 2 (9th place in the Mid-Atlantic Division)

Game Notes 

Reading United come into the match with Bermuda looking to shake off a three match winless streak. The lack of results on the pitch can be directly attributed to United’s inability to score from the many well worked chances they’ve created. Over the last three matches, Reading have averaged 13 shots per game while limiting their opposition to just 8 shots per match. Regaining confidence and form will go a very long way in determining if this very talented United side can reach the PDL playoffs. Deshorn Brown continues to lead the team in scoring with five goals, but he’s been held off the score sheet in the last three games. Brown has formed an important partnership with big, strong forward Pedro Ribeiro. Ribeiro was sent in on goal by Brown for United’s only goal in a 1-1 draw with Long Island last Sunday.

Friday’s match begins a run of six matches in seventeen days that will determine United’s playoff fate. With four matches against teams in the bottom half of the division table, Reading have a golden opportunity to make-up ground on division leading Ocean City FC. The July 13th match between Ocean City and Reading will likely determine which club goes home with the division crown.

The Bermuda Hogges come to Reading for the third match of a four game road trip. A trip to Central Jersey on Wednesday was unkind as the Spartans beat Bermuda 3-1. The Hogges enter the match in Reading with just one win and two draws from eleven matches and a defense that leaks three goals per road game. Wayne Bean leads the Bermuda side with two goals on eleven shots while goalkeeper Tahj Bell sports an inflated 2.361 goals against average.

2011 Season head-to-head results

May 27th:    Bermuda  2-3  Reading  (at Bermuda Athletic Association)

July 8th:       Reading 2-0  Bermuda (at Reading’s Don Thomas Stadium)

Reading flew to Bermuda for a Memorial Day weekend match with the Hogges. In a close contest, Reading used a Will Bates goal and a brace from Brian Ownby to get off the island with a 3-2 win and their perfect record intact.

In the return match, Bermuda rolled into Reading for their final fixture of a four game, eight day road trip. Tired legs hindered Bermuda’s attack and Reading only needed first half goals from Matt Sanner and Steve Neumann to dispatch the Hogges by a scoreline of 2-0.

PDL Mid-Atlantic Playoff Race

With the PDL regular season rapidly approaching its climax, Ocean City FC currently lead the Mid-Atlantic division on 27 points, edging in state rivals Jersey Express by a single point. The division champs earn a chance to rest weary legs with a bye for the opening round of the playoffs. On Wednesday night, OCFC used goals on either side of intermission to earn a vital 2-1 road win against fellow playoff hopeful Long Island and leap frog Jersey for the top spot. Jersey stumbled at home in a match against New Jersey Rangers FC, losing 2-1. Reading sit in third place on 20 points, six back of Jersey but with two games in hand. United also have one game in hand over Ocean City. With the top three teams earning bids to the PDL postseason, don’t count out Long Island and New Jersey Rangers FC who are tied on 17 points and just three points out of the playoffs.