Lita Sinks City

An incredible brace from hitman Leroy Lita secured a gusty but well-deserved away win in Manchester this past weekend, and elevated the Royals to the exciting heights of sixth in the Premiership table.

Lita netted twice in the closing stages after having a goal wrongly chalked off in the first half by referee Howard Webb, the ball having supposedly gone out of play before Stephen Hunt nodded into Leroy`s path.

The game had a very cagey start, with only a few half chances occurring in the opening quarter of the match.

Irishman Stephen Hunt, whose performances have been scintillating as of late, proved to be a constant thorn in the side of the Manchester outfit, and his delicate dink almost played Leroy Lita in for a chance of opening the scoring, only for a combination of City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver and captain Richard Dunne hooked the ball clear.

Weaver was injured in the collision with his own towering centre back, and was later forced off with the £2million summer signing Andreas Isaksson replacing him in the 35th minute.

Five minutes before the interval, Reading skipper Graeme Murty hooked a hopeful long ball into the opposing area only for it to seemingly be heading out. Hunt showed his tenacity and managed to head the ball back into the six yard box to where Lita was waiting to pounce.

The inform forward turned the ball home in predatory fashion, only for the traveling celebrations to be short-lived thanks to the linesman`s call that the ball had left the field of play. Television replays later showed this not to be the case, and the Royals felt rightfully aggrieved to be level pegging at the break.

In injury time Lita was inches away from the opener, and he was desperately unlucky to see Shane Long’s cross hit just too far ahead of him as he raced to meet it.

The second half started with opportunities for both teams, but Reading again looked the more likely as Hunt robbed his fellow countryman Dunne of the ball on the left. He carried the ball towards the City goal, and with attacked lining up his disappointing cross fell comfortably into the arms of a somewhat relieved Isaksson in the home goal.

At the opposite end of the field, City striker Darius Vassell had a golden chance to put his team ahead, but his mis-controlled effort sailed harmlessly over the bar after he stole in front of Andre Bikey to meet a low cross from the right.

Shane Long then looked destined to add to his improving account as midfielder Steve Sidwell played a low ball into his path, but the Irishman was inches away from touching it towards the net.

Reading were creating a host of decent chances, and it was difficult to tell who was supposed to be the home side in what was turning into an exciting tie. Glen Little, whose mazy twisting and turning had befuddled the City left flank for the entire afternoon, saw his cross cannon off of Manchester City substitute Dietmar Hamann and loop towards goal.

Unfortunately for both he and the impressive number of traveling Royals, the ball struck the crossbar and bounced to safety with the City goalkeeper stranded.

Vassell was played in by a well-weighted pass from the edge of the box, but American Marcus Hahnemann was out well to cover the danger as a good chance for the hosts went begging.

Subsitute Daniel Sturridge entered the fray to a standing ovation, and almost immediately turned Andre Bikey to prompt a move down the left, and the cross eventually found Barton but he shot considerably off target at the far post.

It took until the 78th minute for either goal to be breached, and it was a thoroughly exquisite goal that was worth waiting for.

Another impressive performance from the intelligent Nicky Shorey saw his feed Glen Little, who in turn released the advancing Steve Sidwell in the centre of the park. The much-talked-about midfielder issued a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Leroy Lita, whose brilliant first-time finish flew past Isaksson and into the far corner of the net with his left foot.

The finish saw the Royals move into the lead, and joyous celebration erupted in the away end of the stadium, to which Lita headed to join in the party.

Stephen Hunt had the perfect opportunity to add to the scoreline, but his questionable decision to opt for an over-head kick despite having enough time to go and make himself a cupper before striking the ball, flew wide of the upright.

The impressive Lita did not show the same hesitation, and duly doubled his tally for the day in the 88th minute. Reading substitute Dave Kitson played his part by robbing the home side of possession with a typically ferocious challenge. The loose ball fell to James Harper, who slid through to Lita who was screaming for the opportunity.

The pint-sized striker beat two defenders to the ball and hit a powerful low effort past the City goalkeeper into the opposite corner to that of his first strike. The points were safe and this signalled the end of an efficient day`s work by the visiting side.

City looked for what was nothing more than a consolation, but the composure of Nicky Shorey saw the left-back superbly intercept the ball on his own goal line before dribbling it out of the area and passing on calmly.