Loan Watch: Ballard scores first Reading goals
It's been a busy week for Southampton’s loan players in league and cup action, as Dom Ballard scored his first goals for Reading in an impressive midweek display. This and more in the latest Loan Watch…
Saints' young striker bagged a brace for The Royals and got two assists in a sensational 9-0 drubbing of Exeter City in the EFL Trophy, despite starting on the bench.
Introduced in the 63rd minute with the score already 4-0, Ballard took only 17 touches on his second Reading appearance but still scored twice as well as assisting two - having an involvement in four of the remaining five goals.
Just after coming on, he headed home his first goal for the club at the back post, finishing off a short corner routine before his two assists followed, unselfishly laying off Ben Elliot to make it six and then releasing Taylan Harris on the right for Reading’s seventh.
Ballard then rounded off the scoring in stoppage time with his second goal, arriving in the penalty area unmarked to tap home after an incisive team move.
Elsewhere in the EFL Trophy, Ryan Finnigan had success with Shrewsbury Town as he played 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s, with The Shrews earning a bonus point in a penalty shootout victory.
Unfortunately, back in the league, both Ballard and Finnigan’s side suffered defeats over the weekend as Reading lost to Blackpool and Shrewsbury were beaten by Leyton Orient.
Outside of the EFL, there was another maiden club goal scored by Academy defender Matt Carson, who had plenty of action during the week with Braintree Town.
Carson played 120 minutes on Tuesday night as The Iron beat Canvey Island 3-1 after extra time in an Emirates FA Cup second round qualifying replay, before the Northern Irishman played another full 90 on Saturday.
The full-back needed little time to get involved in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Aveley as he opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the area, which also earned him Braintree’s Man of the Match vote on social media.
Elsewhere in the division, Luke Pearce played the final half an hour in Torquay’s 3-2 defeat against Hemel Hempstead.
Pearce came on with his side behind and was involved in the moves for both goals to turn the game around, before two further late strikes meant Torquay’s opponents took all three points.
Lastly in England’s sixth tier, Ollie Wright was between the sticks in Bath City’s 2-2 draw against Dover Athletic as the Romans rescued a point from two goals down to remain top of the table.
Luke Pearce in action for Torquay United. (Photo: PPAUK)
Down in the Southern League South, Academy midfielder Josh Squires made another substitute appearance for Salisbury in a 2-0 win over Bracknell Town.
Outside of England, Armel Bella-Kotchap made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League as PSV were comfortably beaten by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in midweek.
In Turkey, Mateusz Lis kept his third clean sheet of the season for Göztepe in the TFF First League as they recorded their second win of the season - a 1-0 triumph on the road against Manisa FK.
Finally, Lyanco played 90 minutes for Al-Gharafa in their 3-2 win over Al-Duhail in the Qatar Stars League; the Brazilian defender assisted a stoppage time equaliser that preceded an even later winning goal in a dramatic game for The Cheetahs.
Main Image: JasonPix
