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Reading United ready for rivals Ocean City

By Sean Doyle, 06/16/18, 10:45AM EDT

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READING, PA (June 16, 2018) – Unbeaten Reading United (6-0-1) will meet their arch-rivals, the Ocean City Nor’easters (4-2-0), for the 46th time in a Premier Development League match at Wilson High School’s Gurski Stadium on Saturday, June 16th. The match will be part of Reading United’s annual Kicks Against Cancer Night, where the club helps raise money for charity in the fight to find a cure for a disease that touches so many. 

Halfway through the 2018 Premier Development League season, Reading have yet to suffer a defeat and sit atop the Mid-Atlantic Division. United’s excellent form is based on the club’s superb defensive work through the first half of the season. The Reading defense has conceded just two goals while shutting out the opposition five times. Team captain Aaron Molloy leads the team with three goals and three assists.

In their last match, Reading United thoroughly dominated Lehigh Valley United in a 3-0 win at Gurski Stadium. Reading raced out to a two goal lead before halftime thanks to a pair of goals from Molloy. Kalil El Medkhar added a goal in the second half while the Reading United defense put the clamps on Lehigh Valley, allowing the visitors just two shots during the ninety minutes of the match.

Ocean City make the trip to Reading bolstered by a three match win streak. The Nor’easters sit level on points with the New York Red Bulls U23s in the Mid-Atlantic Division table. Ocean City will want to secure three precious points against Reading in a tight race to the PDL postseason, but history is not on their side. The Nor’easters have won just one match in Reading since 2006.

Like Reading, the Nor’easters throttled Lehigh Valley in their last match. Ocean City ran out of Allentown’s J. Birney Crum Stadium 4-1 winners. Abdul Mansaray powered the Ocean City attack, scoring two goals and providing an assist on a third to pace his side to victory.

The Nor’easters currently lead the all-time series 20-18-7, but Reading has been in firm control of the rivalry since 2010. United are 11-4-3 since the series resumed in 2010 and have only suffered defeat at home once in that period.

Reading United will also be raising money in the fight against cancer during the match. Fans are encouraged to bid on special commemorative game-worn Reading United jerseys during  a silent auction to be held throughout the contest. Proceeds from the jersey auction will go to Red Card Cancer and Penn State 4 Diamonds.