clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Reading FC Loan Round-Up: Big Striker Bags Hat-Trick As Youngsters Fight For Promotion

Catch up on all the latest news regarding the outbound Reading FC loan players, including the departure of Sean Long to a Conference side, a young goalkeeper to League One and a big striker headed to League Two.

By TalkMurtyToMe
Pete Norton/Getty Images

Craig Tanner - Plymouth Argyle (SkyBet League Two) Latest Appearances: 5 Total Appearances: 39 Goals: 6

Tanner added his sixth of the season since our last loan round-up, scoring a late equaliser as a sub against Oxford United to give his side a point. In all, the young Reading attacker made five appearances over the past month, notable being withdrawn at half-time against Crawley, and coming off the bench in the 34th minute against Barnet. Tanner was also an unused substitute in his side's match against Yeovil earlier in the month.
Fans have certainly taken to the attacking play of Tanner since his arrival at the start of the season;

After the Oxford draw, Tanner spoke to pafc.co.uk on the season his side has had heading into the run in.

"I think if we finish above Oxford then I think we will be promoted, so it is just between us; hopefully we keep pushing on against Accrington and open up as big of a gap as possible.
"I think [promotion] has always been in reach since the start of the season, when you see the squad we have got. "We have always got to aim for promotion; we have got a good enough squad, and hopefully the injuries will come back and help boost morale as well.
"I was unlucky [with an earlier chance], it came of my thigh, knee, shin and toe and I couldn't quite squeeze it in so it was nice to climb and head it into the corner, so it was good."

George Legg – Gosport Borough (National League South) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 27

Legg joined Gosport Borough on March 4th following the conclusion of his loan spell with Hampton & Richmond Borough, and went straight into the side in a 2-0 defeat to Ebbsfleet. Legg also ‘made a number of terrific saves' on his home debut just days later too, but couldn't help his side avoid a 3-2 defeat to Concord.

After his debut, Legg spoke to gosportboroughfc.co.uk about his start at the club;

"It was challenging to be fair but I'd decided to come out and be positive and strong, make decisions and stick to them. "
"It’s difficult to come to a club where I don't know anyone but I thought I did okay and I really enjoyed it. I just hope to gain experience and win games."

Rob Dickie - Cheltenham Town (Conference National League) Latest Appearances: 0 Total Appearances: 23 Goals: 5

Still recovering from the injury suffered over two months ago, Rob Dickie again failed to muster a single appearance since the last update. He is expected to be in with a shout at Braintree on Saturday though, making his long awaited return for a niggling injury suffered during a game in which the centre back scored a hat-trick back in December.

Dominic Samuel – Gillingham (SkyBet League One) Latest Appearances: Total Appearances: 20 Goals: 6

By Samuel's high standards this season, the past month had been a particularly mediocre one. He was taken off before the end in games against Oldham, Scunthorpe and Chesterfield and was benched in the game against Chesterfield. In fact, before last weekend's game against Crewe, Samuel had received some criticism from Gillingham fans about his work rate.

However, he did bag the opener in that 3-0 win over Crewe, which took his season tally to 6 goals on the year.

Dominic Hyam - Dagenham & Redbridge (SkyBet Football League Two) Latest Appearances: 5 Total Appearances: 13 Goals: 1

Hyam started the month in the Dagenham starting line-up, completing 90 minutes against Mansfield, Yeovil and Notts County, before picking up an injury in the following game, being withdrawn early in a win against York. That ruled him out for the next two games, before he returned to the starting line-up against Oxford on Tuesday night.

Fans took to social media to express their concerns over Hyam's injury;

Bogdan Vastsuk - Farnborough (Ryman League Premier Division) Latest Appearances: 5 Total Appearances: 24 Goals: 13

Bogdan Vastsuk continues to score goals. He added four more this month, scoring a hat-trick against Grays Athletic a week before he fired in the winner to secure Farnborough's first away league win since November 2014.

The month started quietly for Vastsuk though. The big loanee playing Leiston and Merstham as well as 84 minutes against East Thurrock before the Grays game. A deft touch from the striker gave him his first in that match, before he nipped in at the near post to head home an inch perfect corner to grab his second. His hat-trick came from the penalty spot, completing a well-deserved treble as the game ticked into stoppage time.

The following week he bagged the winner against Met Police, thumping the ball across the goalkeeper from a good position into the far corner to put his side 2-1 up.

Jake Sheppard - Eastbourne Borough (Conference South) Latest Appearances: 7 Total Appearances: 8

Sheppard has quickly established himself as a starter for his new side, featuring in all of their games since joining the Conference South side. Jake made notable contributions in wins over Whitehawk, Margate, Bognor Regis and Hayes & Yeading, his former club.

Liam Kelly - Bath City (Conference South) Latest Appearances: 6 Total Appearances: 7 Goals: 2

Like Sheppard, Kelly has also firmly established himself as starter for Bath City, playing more than 70 minutes in all six of his games since the last update. In his previous two games, Kelly got himself on the score-sheet too. His first goal was described as "mercurial" by the official website, who detail the goal further here:
"The breakthrough came ten minutes from time as Kelly robbed a defender and curled the first goal of his loan spell into the top corner."

That game was to end 1-1, and his second goal just days later earned his side another draw by the same score line. This time, a late penalty from the Reading youngster earned his team the point.

Stuart Moore – Peterborough United (SkyBet League One) Latest Appearances: 4 Total Appearances: 4

Reading's young goalkeeper departed the club at the back end of February to join Peterborough on a month-long emergency loan.

He made his debut against Swindon, in a 2-1 defeat, before starting again four days later, in a 3-1 defeat to Bury. Moore continued in goal a week later, helping his side pick up a point against Wigan before appearing in a 3-2 defeat to Port Vale a week later.

Given his mediocre start, fans of the club are already clamouring for their first choice goalkeeper to return in goal;

Rowan Liburd – Wycombe Wanderers (SkyBet League One) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 2

Liburd signed on loan for Wycombe at the beginning of March and went immediately into the starting line-up for the visit of Newport. He played 90 minutes in that game, and earned the start the following week, against Stevenage. He was withdrawn in the 77th minute, and he spoke to bucksfreepress.co.uk about his start at the club.

"Goals is really what they want from me. I need to get some good experience under my belt, get some games and just try and get as many goals as possible." 
"I am really grateful to Wycombe for giving me a chance to play some league games.
"I want to just keep kicking on and developing, so we can hopefully start to get some points and push on for the play-offs."

Sean Long – Braintree Town (Conference Premier League) Latest Appearances: 0 Total Appearances: 0

Long joined the Conference side on Tuesday on loan until the end of the season. Having spent two months at Luton Town, in League Town, earlier in the season he went straight into the Braintree squad for the Gateshead game on Tuesday.

STAR LOANEE:

Bogdan Vastsuk's superb hat-trick earned his side a thumping 5-0 victory over Grays Athletic. He also scored the winner to give his side their first away league win since November 2014.

More From The Tilehurst End

Reading FC News 24/7