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Lewis Ward - Margate (National League South) Appearances: 16 Clean Sheets: 3
Ward continued his stay as the starter for Margate throughout this month, starting in cup matches against Hastings, eventually winning in extra time in the replay, as well as playing 90 minutes in a win against Hemel Hempstead and draw with Harrow Borough. He was absent from Margate's most recent fixture though, hinting at a possible return to Reading.
George Legg - Hungerford (National League South) Appearances: 16 Clean Sheets: 6
Legg played in three matches this month, twice in cup games against Leiston and Wantage Town, and once in the league, in a 1-0 defeat to Poole. Sandwiched between those games, Legg was dropped to the bench in a 4-2 defeat to Concord Rangers, and after the defeat to Poole, Legg sent out a tweet to his followers, expressing his dismay at the loss.
Gutted is an understatement
— 'LEGGY' (@georgelegg1) October 22, 2016
Paolo Hurtado - Vitoria de Guimaraes (Liga NOS) Appearances: 9 Goals: 1
Reading's Peruvian winger has become a bit-part player since joining Vitoria in the summer. Having scored on his debut, he has failed to impress since, and played only minimal roles in games over the past month. He was withdrawn at half-time during his side's 3-3 draw with Sporting Lisbon, and was hauled off just after the hour mark a couple of weeks later, in a 2-0 win against Estoril.
After the match, Hurtado took to Twitter to convey his delight at the victory;
Más fuertes que nunca, grande victoria equipo #mastrespuntos #familia #esteeomomento ⚫️⚪️⚫️VSC https://t.co/4N3uCbwRdq
— Paolo Hurtado (@phurtado0712) October 23, 2016
{Stronger than ever, a big team victory}
Sean Long - Cambridge United (Football League Two) Appearances: 9
Sean Long has faced a tough battle to gain a starting spot in Cambridge's side this season since joining in the summer transfer window, but this month saw his hard-work finally bear fruit, as he started twice, in a 1-1 draw with Blackpool and a 2-1 victory in the EFL Trophy to Middlesbrough's U23s. Since being left out of the match day squad at the beginning of the month, Long has started the two aforementioned games as well as being an unused substitute against Grimsby and coming on in stoppage time to shore up the defence in a 2-1 win against Newport.
And Manager Shaun Derry has been impressed with Longs performances too;
SD: Josh Coulson and Sean Long did a great job last week and with Leon Legge and Brad Halliday coming back, we have really good options.
— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) October 13, 2016
Craig Tanner - Plymouth Argyle (Football League Two) Appearances: 11 Goals: 1
Tanner turned 22 on Thursday, but got to celebrate his birthday early with an outrageous flick to grab an assist for Jake Jervis' goal in a 4-1 victory over Yeovil. Tanner also appeared in wins against Stevenage and Newport as well as a draw against Portsmouth and defeat to Wimbledon.
Most fans have taken to Tanner, particularly since he re-joined the club on loan this summer;
The Strictly judges give their verdict on that Tanner flick . #PAFC pic.twitter.com/703fwgeDEH
— Rob Bullen (@robbybullen) October 2, 2016
The Strictly judges give their verdict on that Tanner flick . #PAFC pic.twitter.com/703fwgeDEH
— Rob Bullen (@robbybullen) October 2, 2016Good to see Tanner starting and Osborne on the bench #pafc ⚽️
— Cal (@Callum___Barber) October 22, 2016
Id like a 4-4-2 saturday tanner rm carey lm spencer and goodwille upfront try take the game to pompey #pafc
— pafcmatt (@FLTRANSFERSs) October 11, 2016
However others have questioned his goal-scoring record for the club.
Has Craig Tanner ever scored a goal? How does he keep getting game time for teams? Strange. #PAFC
— Lawrence Tanner (@LawrenceTanner1) October 5, 2016
Has Craig Tanner ever scored a goal? How does he keep getting game time for teams? Strange. #PAFC
— Lawrence Tanner (@LawrenceTanner1) October 5, 2016Aaron Kuhl - Boreham Wood (National League Prem) Appearances: 6
For whatever reason, Aaron Kuhl has really struggled to get significant minutes since dropping down a (fair) few divisions to link up with Boreham Wood this summer. Once thought of as one of Reading's best academy players, it seems he has become the forgotten man at the club. He was withdrawn in the 66th minute in a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham, and was brought on late on in a couple of games this month, in comfortable wins against Hendon (3-0) and Macclesfield (2-0). He has flirted with the match-day squad on occasions too, being an unused substitute against North Ferriby before being dropped completely during a victory over Braintree.
Kuhl's fall from favour has not gone unnoticed though, with most Reading fans bamboozled by his poor form.
How is Aaron Kuhl not making the Boreham Wood starting line up? #ReadingFC
— KizzleRicks (@KieranBarrett66) October 25, 2016
Rob Dickie - Cheltenham Town (Football League Two) Appearances: 11 Goals: 2
Dickie has become a mainstay in this Cheltenham side, completing 90 minutes in all five games this month. The most notable of which came in a 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley, as the young defender scored in the final stages to snatch a point.
Full-time: #ASFC 1-1 #CTFC
— Cheltenham Town FC (@CTFCofficial) October 8, 2016
Rob Dickie's 90th minute goal has snatched a point for 10-man Cheltenham. What a game! #COYR pic.twitter.com/xBAj8tSI5M
@CTFCofficial Rob Dickie by miles, touch of class! #ctfc
— Stephen Kemp (@1964boy) October 16, 2016
Watch what goalscorer @RobDickie96 had to say after yesterday's game on Robins TV here:
— Cheltenham Town FC (@CTFCofficial) October 9, 2016
▶️ https://t.co/PHItXi3qPc #CTFC #ASFC pic.twitter.com/Lau81Ow5uv
@TalkReading @Sc0tty123 @RobDickie96 @CTFCofficial Top lad! Will go a long way.
— Pete Arthur (@cleevecomment) October 8, 2016
Jonathan Bond - Gillingham (Football League One) Appearances: 9
Bond remained on the side-line at the beginning of this month as a result of the groin injury he sustained in September's EFL Trophy clash against Tottenham. After three successive defeats without him though, Bond walked straight back into the side after recovering from injury, but couldn't prevent his side from conceding a 90th minute winner against Bristol Rovers in his first match back. Bond was booked for time-wasting seconds before the winner went in.
He stayed between the sticks for the next game though, but his blunder allowed Walsall to take home a point from his struggling Gillingham side;
Funny that nobody seems to have mentioned Jonathan Bond's howler that cost us the win. Bet Nelson would have been hung by now.
— Thomas (@thomasAJ89) October 18, 2016
The month ended as it had started for Reading's young goalkeeper though, as he picked up a recurrence of the groin injury - that kept him out of most of this month's games - after half an hour against Charlton.
He won't play this weekend.
MANAGER: "Jonathan Bond is out for Saturday, we'll asses Ryan Jackson as late as possible before travelling to Fleetwood. It's touch & go."
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) October 27, 2016
Jack Stacey - Exeter (Football League Two) Appearances: 9
Stacey's been a fringe player since joining Exeter on loan, playing 73 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Wycombe, before being dropped against Grimsby. He then played the final 18 minutes in a 4-1 victory against Barnet before picking up 90 minutes in a 2-1 defeat against Morecambe.
Prior to Eamonn Dolan's testimonial match last week, Stacey had some nice words to say about his former academy coach.
EAMO'S GAME | Jack Stacey shares his memories of Eamonn Dolan ahead of tomorrow's match at SJP. 1pm kick-off#ECFC pic.twitter.com/YCHEOB2Rze
— Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) October 22, 2016
Tariqe Fosu - Colchester United (Football League Two) Appearance: 9
Like Stacey, Fosu has been in and out of the Colchester starting line-up since joining, and things haven't really picked up for him over the past month. He was withdrawn shortly after the hour mark in a defeat to Carlisle and draw with Newport, but was absent from the match day squad in the 2-1 defeat to Saints' U23 side in the EFLT and the 2-2 draw with Portsmouth. He was back on the bench the following week though, coming off it for the final five minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Notts County.
Many Reading fans may share the sentiment of Will though;
Still don't understand why Fosu was loaned out. Beerens needs competition #readingfc
— Will (@Quinniesta) October 1, 2016
LOAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK;
Rob Dickie is one of few loan players to be getting regular extended game-time at the minute, and his 90th minute equaliser for Cheltenham against Accrington makes him more than deserving for this award.