F.C. Revolution

Check inefficient offense off the list of troubles facing the Reading Revolution. Though the scoring flowed like rush-hour traffic through four games, Gibrilla Conde and the Revolution have turned that around in a big way. But while play up the field is flourishing, there is still work to be done at the defensive end, where spotty play cost Reading a two-goal lead in its 4-3 loss to the Erie Admirals.

For the second straight game the Revolution put in a score during the first minute of action, but unlike the team's first win of the season against New Jersey Saturday, Reading (1-5) couldn't build a large enough cushion to hold off the opposition.

Erie scored a key goal to tie it just before halftime and finished the effort with a penalty shot in the 85th minute to waste another fabulous game from Conde.

"There were a few pockets, little bits of time that we let our guard down," said Derek Long, who assisted on two goals. "We can't do that if we want to win."

After breaking out for four goals Saturday, Reading's attack looked sharp again in scoring two first-half goals. Aaron Roland deposited the first, chasing down a through ball from Long and scoring a minute in.

"Aaron made a great run and I just found him in space," Long said. "If we do more of that we'll be fine."

Long got involved again in the 29th minute, as the Revolution put together an unusual score off a throw-in on the right sideline. Mike Choiniere lobbed the ball toward the middle of the field and Long flipped a header goalward. Conde used his head to knock Long's pass just over goalie Daniel Mudd's fingertips. The first-half output gave the Revolution more goals than it had scored in its first four games combined.

"It's a lot better than the beginning of the season," Long said of the offense.

"I think we're coming around finally," said goalie Rich Kessler, who made eight saves. "Now that we're progressing through the season we're starting to find our flair and our identity."

Despite Reading's strong first half, Erie forward Conor Meade and his teammates broke down the defense to engineer a comeback, beginning with Meade's unassisted marker in the 38th minute.

Evan Chate put in a 40-yard free kick right before the half to tie it, as Revolution players stood watching the ball bounce into the net.

"I'll take credit for those mistakes," Kessler said. "I should be more sure. But we were dropping back too far into our own six, which doesn't give me room to come out."

The Admirals took their first lead when Stephen Duggan put home a rebound and Conde quickly evened it with his fifth goal in two games. After Choiniere fouled Meade in the penalty area late in the game, Meade's strike beat Kessler for a backbreaker, the second time a crucial penalty kick has crushed Reading this season.

"We dropped another penalty kick late again," Kessler said. "That's a tough way to go out."

Contact Ben Seal: 610-371-5064 or bseal@readingeagle.com