One of the longest running, hotly contested rivalries in American soccer resumes on Saturday night. Reading United will meet the Ocean City Nor’easters for the 46th time at Wilson High School’s Gurski Stadium, writing a new chapter in the twenty year history of these proud rivals.

The Reading-Ocean City rivalry dates back to 1997, when the teams played in the USISL Division 3 Pro League, the forerunner of what is today known as the United Soccer League. On July 11, 1997, the South Jersey Barons traveled from Ocean City to Reading and were defeated by the Reading Rage, 2-0, and the rivalry was born. Two days later, the Rage traveled down the shore and scored a 1-0 win over the Barons.

The Ocean City based Barons would dominate the rivalry in the first decade of the series with Reading. The Barons would hold a 17-7-3 record through the 2007 season before the series took a two year hiatus as the clubs played in separate divisions in 2008 and 2009.

When the rivalry resumed in 2010, each club had a new identity. The Rage, after forming a developmental partnership with the Philadelphia Union, became Reading United A.C.. Ocean City would leave their Barons nickname to history and rebrand as the Nor’easters.

The change in names wasn’t the only difference in the rivalry in 2010. Under the leadership of Brendan Burke, Reading would begin to dominate the series. Since 2010, Reading United sport an 11-4-3 record against the Nor’easters, scoring two division titles over the eight season span. Ocean City would also claim two division titles, in 2012 and 2013, during that span.

The three matches the teams played in 2016 perfectly encapsulated the intensity of the rivalry between Reading and Ocean City.

United scored a 2-0 win in the first meeting at Carey Field, a stadium the Nor'easters affectionately call the Beach House. Current Reading midfielder Zach Zandi  scored twice and a brave goalkeeping performance from Ben Beaury, who saved a penalty kick to keep the Nor’easters off the scoreboard, saw Reading head home from the shore with three points.

The return match at Reading later in the season was the one of the rivalries most thrilling affairs with seven goals scored, including two goals in stoppage time. Ocean City held the lead twice, only to see Reading claw back to level the score. United would take a late lead through a penalty kick goal by Hugo Delhommelle. Chevaughn Walsh, who would go on to be named the 2016 Premier Development League MVP, leveled the match at 3-3 with an unstoppable blast from distance that seemed to suck the life out of Reading’s Don Thomas Stadium. On the ensuing kickoff, William Picoux hit a long ball deep into Ocean City territory that caused confusion along the Nor’easters back line. Paul Marie pounced and hit a curling effort into the net to score a last second game winner, igniting huge celebrations throughout the stadium.

The teams would meet one final time in 2016, in the PDL’s Eastern Conference Championship game. Aaron Molloy would give Reading a first half lead before Mo Conde was sent off for a challenge in the penalty box that gifted Ocean City a penalty kick. United goalkeeper Steffen Kraus saved the spot kick and helped Reading get to halftime with a 1-0 lead, despite being down a man. Ocean City would put Reading to the sword in the second half, scoring four goals and advancing to the PDL National Semifinals with a 4-1 victory over United. The win in the Conference Final was Ocean City’s first win in Reading since 2006.

For Molloy, now Reading United’s captain, the 2016 Eastern Conference Final was his first experience with the rivalry. ”It was a very tough game against a strong Ocean City team and we had a player sent off while we were 1-0 and it changed the game,” the Irish midfielder explained. “They celebrated on our field and it hurt and I will always remember that feeling for every game I play against Ocean City.”

Molloy continued, “The rivalry is huge, it’s two top teams in the conference battling it out and it seems in the past we play each other three times a season, which is great for the players because we want to play in as many big games as possible. Training is always very intense in the build-up to the Nor’easters game because everyone wants to play.”

Reading United forward Ismael Noumansana brings the unique experience of having worn the jersey of both clubs in the historic rivalry. Noumansana said of Saturday's match-up, “This is one the biggest games of the season. Having played on both sides makes it even more interesting. I remember my first year at Reading, playing against them was fun and competitive. Ocean City is a team that is intense and they always want to knock is us out. We lost to them my first year with Reading in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final and that showed me how bad they want to beat us.”

Noumansana also talked about spending the 2017 PDL season with the Nor’easters, saying, “My time with Ocean City last year was great as well, it was a bunch of talented players. It was the coach’s first year and he didn’t want us to lose against Reading.”

If the 46th meeting of these proud rivals is anything like the matches in the series that preceded it, Saturday’s edition of Reading United vs. Ocean City will be a can’t miss event. United currently sit at the top of the PDL’s Mid-Atlantic Division, unbeaten through the first half of the season. Ocean City lurk not far behind and would gleefully enjoy handing Reading their first loss of the season.