UNITED STORM PAST OCEAN CITY FOR A 2-0 VICTORY

Long time rivals Reading United and Ocean City meet for the first time in 2015. (Photo Credit: Dave Musante/Penn Images)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

That was Reading United’s mantra as they took on the Ocean City Nor’easters in a crucial early season Premier Development League Mid-Atlantic Division showdown. It was a tense affair at Exeter High School’s Don Thomas Stadium as United spent most of the match trying to break down Ocean City’s tenacious defense. Reading finally broke through thanks to two goals from forward Brett Campbell to claim an important victory over their Jersey Shore rivals.

From the opening kick, Reading took control of the match, maintaining possession in the Ocean City half. The Nor’easters countered United’s possession by playing a compact, organized defense set on clogging the middle of the pitch. The home side found some success down the flanks, but forwards Neco Brett and Tom Barlow were starved for service and had little impact in the opening half.

With Ocean City content to play defense, the Reading backline was rarely tested. The Nor’easters mustered just one shot on goal in the first half. The rivals entered the locker rooms at half time deadlocked at 0-0.

Reading United Head Coach made two tactical substitutions at halftime, bringing on Brett Campbell and Paul Marie. It was a move that would pay dividends for United.

With a pair of fresh legs at the center of the Reading attack, the home side continued chipping away at the Ocean City defense. Brett Campbell linked well with the Reading midfield as United began to put the Nor’easters under more intense pressure. United would be rewarded for their more aggressive stance after some good hustle by Tim Lazorko earned the home side their seventh corner of the match in the 70th minute.

Shane Campbell, playing with a cast on his left arm following injury in training, provided a great delivery into the Ocean City penalty area that bobbled around before Brett Campbell got his head to the ball and put it just past Nor’easters goalkeeper Eric Klenofsky to stake Reading a 1-0 lead with just twenty minutes to play.

Brett Campbell celebrates his first goal of the match. Eight minutes later, he’d record an insurance goal for United. (Photo Credit: Dave Musante/Penn Images)

The goal forced Ocean City to abandon the defensive posture that held Reading at bay for much of the game. With the visitors pressing for an equalizer, United grabbed an insurance goal just eight minutes later. Building through the middle of the pitch, midfielder Paul Marie attacked the Ocean City centerbacks before slipping a nicely weighted ball to the foot of Brett Campbell. With Klenofsky charging off his line, Campbell hit a low ball to the back post to double Reading’s lead.

Though Ocean City had several chances to find a late goal, they were unable to seriously test United goalkeeper Kyle Morton. Morton recorded just two saves and kept his third consectutive clean sheet in league play to help United earn a 2-0 victory over the Nor’Easeters.

When asked about his side’s defensive performance against Ocean City, Morton said, “It was a team effort tonight. Everyone was in for the cause, everyone worked hard and we got the job done. No mistakes.” The goalkeeper continued, “It’s hardwork, everybody is in line, we’re connected and everybody wants to keep a clean sheet.”

Coach Castellanos discussed some of the elements that went into Reading’s victory saying, “We talk a lot in training about keeping good possession, breaking through lines, pressuring and just trying to play a good brand that the coaching staff thinks can work.” He continued, “It always feels good when you can get a win, especially in this tight and tough conference that we’re in.”

The 2-0 win over Ocean City moves United into second place in the Mid-Atlantic Division, two points behind leaders New York Red Bulls U23 but with a game in hand.

Reading United hit the road for an important mid-week divisional match against F.A. Euro in New York on Wednesday June 3rd. Reading United’s next home match is scheduled for Saturday, June 6th against D.C. United U23, with kickoff set for 7:00pm. All United home matches will be played at Exeter Township Senior High School. Tickets for the match are available atwww.readingunitedac.com. Contact our ticket sales team at sales@readingunitedac.com for all your group needs.

Scoring Summary

71′ – Reading United – Brett Campbell (Shane Campbell)
78′ – Reading United – Brett Campbell (Paul Marie)

Reading United Line-Up

GK- Kyle Morton; DEF – Keegan Rosenberry, Andrew Moullin, Martin Nygaard, Shane Campbell; MID – Tim Lazorko (Jason Wright 85′), Quincy Thomas (Jordan Scarlett 84′), Graham Smith (Paul Marie 46′), William Picoux (Charlton Muhlauri 79′); F – Tom Barlow (Nico Delgado 65′), Neco Brett (Brett Campbell 46′)