Reading condemned Premiership side West Ham to a shock defeat in the second-round of the Worthington Cup by coming out on top in a penalty shoot-out. Following a scoreless 120 minutes, the teams were forced to take penalties to decide the outcome. Reading defender Adi Viveash scored the winning spot-kick after Scott Minto failed to convert with the scores level at 5-5. In doing so, he preserved the Division Two team's admirable record of never having been beaten in a penalty shoot-out in any competition.
Premiership leaders Bolton stumbled into the third round at the expense of Division One new boys Walsall in what was a dramatic seven-goal encounter at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton rested several of their first-team players but that gameplan almost backfired when Walsall narrowly missed out on a great victory.
Darren Wrack deservedly put Walsall ahead in the 65th minute but Bolton hit back through Michael Ricketts and Dean Holdsworth. However, the visitors stunned the home support when they scored twice in as many minutes. First, second-half substitute Darren Byfield headed home seven minutes from time before Tony Barras put the Saddlers ahead with a fine volley.
Walsall were poised for a surprise victory when Japanese debutant Akinori Nishizawa slotted home deep in stoppage time for Sam Allardyce's side to take the match into extra-time. Six minutes later, Henrik Pedersen somehow managed to slot the ball over the line but when the visitors were awarded a penalty after Colin Hendry upended Byfield, Allardyce must have thought it was not his night. Hendry was sent off for his trouble but Barras' low right-footed penalty was saved by Steve Banks and Bolton held on for a win.
Fulham also came through their match against Rochdale despite needing a penalty shoot-out to determine the outcome while there were also wins for Coventry, Manchester City, Grimsby, West Brom, and Crewe.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
