Salako and O'Connor battle it out (Getty Images).
By Andy Tilley, PA Sport
Click here for full match stats
On-loan striker Ade Akinbiyi secured Stoke City's Division One survival when
he scored the only goal of the game against Reading at the Britannia Stadium.
Both clubs had won promotion from the Second Division at the end of the
2001-02 season but while the Royals were already assured of a berth in the
Division One play-offs, Stoke went into the game needing a point to be safe from
the threat of relegation.
But that strike from Akinbiyi, on loan from Crystal Palace, proved good enough
to secure a Potters victory which made Brighton's result at Grimsby purely
academic.
The home side took the game to Reading during the early stages, midfielder
James O'Connor setting the tone by embarking on a rampaging run from his own
half but could only to fire his eventual low drive straight at goalkeeper Marcus
Hahnemann.
Lewis Neal, cutting in off the left wing, was the next to chance his arm for
the Potters after being teed up by Peter Hoekstra but his close-range shot was
again too close to the goalkeeper.
Chris Greenacre got in on the act moments later but a snapshot on the turn was
again comfortably dealt with by the Royals goalkeeper ahead of a second effort,
just after the quarter-hour, being directed wide.
Reading's first scoring opportunity arrived in the 27th minute but Steven
Sidwell could only blaze over from 18 yards.
Next, Greenacre's dribble into Reading territory was abruptly ended by a
shuddering Adrian Viveash challenge on the edge of the penalty area but Viveash
almost gifted Greenacre a second opportunity with 10 minutes to the break,
Hahnemann having to race from his line to collect a stalling defensive header.
Nicky Forster, the visitors' top scorer, provided Mark Crossley's first test
of the afternoon less than five minutes after the restart, the Madejski Stadium
favourite waltzing around Peter Handyside and then Sergei Shtaniuk before a
fearsome drive from 20 yards was well parried by the Wales international.
And when Forster found the byline, Crossley was forced to concede a corner
after being threatened by the cross at his near post.
But Stoke nerves were calmed in the 55th minute when Neal made tracks down the
left flank before cutting back the ball for Akinbiyi whose flying header from
point-blank range left Hahnemann with no chance.
And the goal was to be Akinbiyi's final contribution as the frontman, troubled
lately by hamstring problems, was replaced by Andy Cooke on the hour.
Reading substitute Darius Henderson, on for John Salako, did spark some
momentary panic in the Stoke penalty area when a hesitant Crossley saw his
attempted clearance partially blocked but Nicky Shorey's shot flew wide.
Then Sidwell tried his luck from range with a shot which skimmed the top of
Crossley's crossbar late in the game, but Stoke claimed the win which guaranteed
their Division One place.
Teams
Stoke: Crossley, Thomas, Handyside, Shtaniuk, Laurence Hall,
Hoekstra, Gunnarsson, O'Connor, Neal (Clarke 79),
Akinbiyi (Cooke 59), Greenacre.
Subs Not Used: Banks, Williams, Iwelumo.
Booked: Cooke, Gunnarsson.
Goals: Akinbiyi 55.
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Viveash, Mackie, Shorey,
Salako (Henderson 63), Harper (Watson 77), Sidwell,
Chadwick (Cureton 70), Forster, Little.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Newman.
Att: 20,477
Ref: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).
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