Reading FC Loan Report: Winger Scores Belter On League Two Debut

Craig Tanner - Plymouth Argyle (SkyBet League Two) Latest Appearances: 3 Total Appearances: 42 Goals: 6

Over the past fortnight, Tanner has continued his run in the Plymouth side, picking up 90 minutes in his team's 1-0 defeat to Luton, 25 minutes in their 2-0 win over Morecambe and 10 minutes in their 3-2 win over York.

Despite the game time, some fans still aren't happy with Tanner's predictability out on the left wing.

Wylde & Tanner were shocking today. So obvious Tanner would cut in on the left every time, Wylde non existent in the 2nd half. #pafc

— Plymouth Argyle Yap (@ArgyleYap) March 19, 2016

Jack Stacey - Carlisle United (SkyBet League Two) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 2 Goals: 1

Stacey made his debut in Carlisle's 0-0 draw against Yeovil, and was withdrawn on the hour mark. He then started against Bristol Rovers, and scored a brilliant opener, voted goal of the day by Sky Sports News, in their 3-2 win.

Reading fan, Jon Keen, was at the game and wrote a short report on Stacey's performance;

"Before the match it was clear that few around me knew who Stacey was, but he looked the part – fit and strong, and straight from the kick-off he started to endear himself to the home crowd, getting in a few decent blocks and chasing back well.  His close control was (dare I say it?) better than that of many of his teammates, and it was clear he belonged to a club at a higher level.

"I wasn’t quite sure where he was meant to be playing, though – although he started wide on the right, he seemed to drift into the centre far too much, so that on a few occasions when Carlisle looked to break there was no outlet on the right. I have no idea if this was a deliberate ploy or an impatience to go looking for the ball, but it meant that for much of the game he was part of a front two alongside the Carlisle target man, rather than a winger, out wide.

"After 11 minutes, Stacey secured the love of the home crowd by scoring a lovely goal.  Finding himself free in the centre, his right-footed curler from 25-yards went in off the far post with the visiting ‘keeper well beaten. It was one of those goals where there’s a short silence before the cheering starts – a sort of unspoken ‘did he really do that?’  I don’t think they see many goals of that quality in this part of the world!

"Throughout this half Stacey looked good and had a couple of promising breaks, and just before half-time got to the ball before the defender near the right corner flag. A beautiful drop of the shoulder and he was away, firing in a low cross across the goalmouth that no-one got on the end of.

"After half-time, two goals in 18 minutes saw the scores level at 2-2, and Carlisle manager Keith Curle decided to replace Stacey for the last half-hour.  It’s always a good sign of a player’s performance when the crowd breaks into spontaneous boos them moment he’s taken off, and this is exactly what happened.

"It was an extremely unpopular decision, with several around me all saying Stacey had been the ‘best player on the park.’  There’s no doubt this performance has made him a lot of friends in Cumbria, and all in all he looked very good and certainly able to compete with the physically of this level, despite his age.  As I say, the only criticism I could level at him is maybe a bit of positional indiscipline – but then again I have no idea if he’d been given this amount of freedom to roam!

"After his departure, Rovers had more possession and the better chances, but after 85 minutes Carlisle scored again - slightly against the run of play – and held on to win 3-2, moving them to within four points of the play-off places and knocking Rovers out of the automatic promotion places.

"Stacey played a major part in this win, and the Carlisle crowd went home happy and singing his praises, and on this showing I’m sure he’ll get other chances to influence Carlisle’s late promotion push.  Apart from the Rovers contingent, the only person who seemed unhappy with the result was me, I had this down as a draw in a three-team accumulator, so Carlisle’s late goal cost be the best part of £300. But apart from that, an entertaining match with a very encouraging performance from a Reading loanee - what more could you want?

Many thanks to Jon for that.

George Legg – Gosport Borough (National League South) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 29

Legg solidified his place in the starting line-up with Gosport Borough with a solid 90 minutes during his side’s 2-0 defeat to Sutton United. Despite the loss though, Legg stood out for his side, making countless saves and keeping his side in the contest with ‘superb saves’ throughout the game.

Missing out on the cup game a week later due to ineligibility, he returned for Borough’s 3-0 defeat to Whitehawk. Again though, Legg was impressive for his side, saving a penalty from Martin, with the official site saying,

"Martin’s penalty was good but Legg’s save was even better with the on-loan keeper making a full stretch save tipping the spot kick onto the post."

Rob Dickie - Cheltenham Town (Conference National League) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 25 Goals: 5

Dickie finally returned from his injury nightmare that has kept him out for over four months over the past fortnight. He missed out against Braintree, but made his long-awaited first appearance back in the side with 90 minutes in a 4-1 win over Boreham Wood.

A further 90 minutes came just three days later in a 2-1 defeat to Wrexham. On recovering from the injury and extending his loan at the club until the end of the season, Dickie said:

"I’m very excited to be back and to try and get maximum points from the remaining games. I’ve done my rehab and I’m feeling 100 per cent."

Dominic Samuel – Gillingham (SkyBet League One) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 22 Goals: 6

Samuel has really impressed Gillingham fans since joining the club, and continued his run in the side with 180 minutes over the past two weeks, in a 1-1 draw with Southend and a 1-0 triumph over Bury. It seems Brian McDermott has been keeping a keen eye on Samuel too over the International break.

Just spotted #Reading manager Brian McDermott making a quick getaway here at Gigg Lane. Presumably been watching Dominic Samuel. #Gills— Benjamin Watts (@BenWattsSport)

Gillingham fan Alan Liptrott from Gills Connect gave us an extended review of his spell at the club earlier this week, which you can read by following the hyperlink.

Dominic Hyam - Dagenham & Redbridge (SkyBet Football League Two) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 15 Goals: 1

Like Samuel, Dom Hyam has played every minute of Dagenham's fixtures over the past two weeks, starting their 4-0 defeat to Oxford and 1-0 defeat to Accrington.

The poor results continue for Hyam's loan side, as they look doomed for relegation from the Football League.

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

Vastsuk has been on serious form this season, scoring 13 goals in his 24 games this season. He couldn't add to that this week though, playing 90 minutes in Farnborough's 0-0 draw with Enfield Town and in their 3-2 win against Billericay, in a game in which they almost squandered a 3-0 lead.

Jake Sheppard - Eastbourne Borough (Conference South) Latest Appearances: 3 Total Appearances: 11

Sheppard extended his loan until the end of the season, following a string of impressive performances in recent weeks. He started in his side's 2-0 win over Chelmsford and 3-1 defeat to St Albans, before being replaced in the second half of their 2-2 draw with Havant & Waterlooville.

Liam Kelly - Bath City (Conference South) Latest Appearances: 3 Total Appearances: 10 Goals: 3

It's three in ten now for Liam Kelly, having scored the opener in his side's 2-2 draw with Bishop's Stortford. His early free-kick found the net with the help of some less-than-convincing goalkeeping to give his side the lead, which they squandered in stoppage time, conceding in the final moments to draw 2-2. Kelly also played 90 minutes and 70 minutes in defeats to Truro City and Maidenhead respectively.

Rowan Liburd - Wycombe Wanderers (SkyBet League One) Latest Appearances: 3 Total Appearances: 5

Liburd has become a fringe player at Wycombe since joining last month, playing 55 minutes in a draw with Accrington, 21 minutes in a draw with Carlisle and 32 minutes in a draw with Notts County. Liburd was also an unused substitute in their game against Mansfield.

Sean Long - Braintree Town (Conference Premier League) Latest Appearances: 1 Total Appearances: 1

Long made his debut for the side in their 1-0 win over Cheltenham, but was absent in their next two games against Bromley and Aldershot. The Irish full-back was selected to participate in his side's International U21 side over the break, which is presumably the reason for his absence from the Braintree side.

Tariqe Fosu – Accrington Stanley (SkyBet League Two) Latest Appearances: 1 Total Appearances: 1

Fosu joined Accrington Stanley on the loan deadline last week, and was an unused substitute in their 1-0 win over Leyton Orient. He made his debut in their 2-0 win over Newport a week later, coming on as a late sub.

Harry Cardwell – Braintree Town (Conference Premier League) Latest Appearances: 2 Total Appearances: 2

Cardwell made his Braintree debut against Bromley two weeks ago, playing 90 minutes in their 1-0 win, before starting again a week later, in his side’s 2-1 defeat to Aldershot.

Braintree manager, Danny Cowley, expressed his delight at securing Cardwell’s signature until the end of the season:

"It is finalised that we have Harry with us and we're absolutely delighted with that."

"Nicky and I have worked really hard over the last few days to get the right one in. I can't believe we have managed to get him.

"He is going to be a top, top player."

Hammad Lawal – Bishop’s Stortford (Conference South) Latest Appearances: 0 Total Appearances: 0

Lawal joined his new loan side on the loan deadline, and appeared for the first time on the bench for their game against Dartford. He was unused substitute in the game, which they eventually lost 3-1.

STAR LOANEE:

Jack Stacey’s superb strike earned him Sky Sports News’ ‘Goal of the Day’ award, and it’s also earned him our loanee of the week award for this week.