Remember the Game!

Leeds 2-3 Reading 18th November 1997


The Royals were struggling in the league under the joint management of Jimmy Quinn and Mick Gooding and were massive underdogs when they travelled north to Elland Road to face Leeds in the fourth round of the Coca Cola Cup in November 1997. The likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Nigel Martyn and Lee Bowyer were in the line up for the team that sat in 5th place in the Premier League, whilst the Royals had the likes of Nicky Hammond, Andy Bernal, Ray Houghton and Steve Swales in their line up.


Many expected us to roll over to our superior counterparts but Carl Asaba hadn`t read the script and he went through on goal in the 9th minute and calmly beat Martyn to give us a deserved lead. Not many expected us to hold onto that lead and before the half time interval David Weatherall had levelled, and Leeds were expected to go on and beat us in the second period.


That looked to be the case when Bowyer gave the home side the lead within minutes of the restart but that was as good as it got for the top flight big boys! A move that involved Bernal and Asaba eventually fell for Martin Williams to loop a header over Martyn and into the net for 2-2.


It was game on again and with Darren Caskey and Houghton dominating the midfield we did the unthinkable and snatched the winner with just five minutes left. Swales and Williams combined and crossed for Trevor Morley to beat three Leeds defenders in the air and head the winner. The 3000 travelling Loyal Royals went crazy and from being 8/1 to win the game beforehand, we had caused one of the cup shocks of the season.


Reading – Hammond, Bernal, McPherson, Primus, Swales, Houghton, Caskey (Hodges), Parkinson, Williams, Asaba, Morley.