Last minute Le Fondre penalty denies Stoke

19^th August 2012

Paul Jones

Paul Jones

19 August 2012

Reading 1-1 Stoke City

Adam Le Fondre’s injury time penalty stole a well deserved point for Reading on their return to the Premier League. Le Fondre’s goal cancelled out Michael Kightly’s soft first half effort for Stoke City.

In a fairly even game, it was the visitor’s that struck first when the usually reliable Reading keeper, Adam Federici allowed a Michael Kightly shot through his arms and into the back of the net.

It was a dream goal on his debut for Stoke’s new summer signing Kightly, who has suffered horrendous injuries in the last couple of seasons.

Stoke fully deserved their lead and could have been ahead before that had Jonathan Walters glancing header been a couple of inches to the left.

The second half was a copy of the first half with few chances and Stoke looking in control with a professional display, which other promoted teams must take a look at. That was until the last ten minutes when Reading piled on the pressure.

Stoke again were defending astutely and as the game entered injury time it looked as though Stoke were going to hang on to all three points, but Reading had other ideas.

Substitute Garath McCleary burst into the box and was fouled by Dean Whitehead, who was shown a second yellow card for his troubles.

Le Fondre stepped up to smash home the penalty to earn his side a point. Not bad for a player who this time last year was scoring goals in League Two for Rotherham.

Reading might have even won it, but Ian Harte’s free kick shaved the top of the net as it went just over the bar.

For Stoke it will feel like two points dropped, but for Reading that point could be massive come the end of the season. 

Paul Jones, football correspondent