“Reading City triggers ’emergency’ Dave Tarpey”

An emergency for Dave Tarpey isn’t a bad situation.

The former Maidenhead United striker, 44 goals for the Magpies and National League South winners, is the Cityzens assistant manager having hung up his boots in the summer.

Until manager Simon Johnson broke the glass on Tarpey’s emergency alarm as Reading were left off the bench in the FA Vase’s 4-0 home win over Baffins Milton Rovers.

Although he said at the time that Tarpey’s appearance as a substitute in the final five minutes was a “one-off”, the striker has now played three times for his team and scored Reading’s third goal in their 3-0 win at Holyport on Saturday.