For all the millions spent by Reading, a free transfer is leading their scoring exploits.

Martin Garratt gets on the ball as he goes on another typical driving run from midfield for City

Martin Williams arrived at the Royals at no cost from Luton Town just under four years ago. It's a good job.

Without his 11 goals the big-spenders would have been in a parlous state, their bid to return to the First Division at the first attempt effectively undermined.

As it is, Reading head for Bootham Crescent tomorrow still on the fringes of the play-off pursuit, but aware they cannot afford too many slip-ups.

Cash has been spent heavily by manager Tommy Burns in his short reign with the club, who boast almost as many professionals as Manchester City.

Getting so many new players to gel has been the big problem as has finding a successor to the popular Carl Asaba, whose sale two weeks into the new season for £600,000 still mystifies many a Royals fan.

Williams, however, has responded to the onerous task of scoring goals, even if his more natural position is out wide.

Luton-born, the teenage Williams first shipped up at Leicester City as an apprentice. When then manager David Pleat left Filbert Street to return for a brief stint at Luton Town Williams returned to his birthplace.

He made only one appearance in the 1991-92 season before making a claim for a regular slot the following campaign. He totalled close on 25 games that year, but was hardly prolific in front of goal with just one strike.

Just one more goal and two seasons later he was freed, a loan stint at Colchester also far from promising.

A nephew of former Luton Town and Hull City player Ray Daniels, Williams linked up with Reading and in his first three seasons of in and out runs in the team mustered ten goals in 63 games.

He has already surpassed that tally this term, despite missing a month with a knee cartilage operation.

Moved into a more central role from out wide, Williams has started to produce a healthy ratio of goals prospering from a tandem with Liberian international Mass Saar, who operates as provider.

Now back fully fit Williams is again the principal attacker in the Royals' costly crew, his pace and awareness obvious dangers to the City defence.

The only other player to come near his strike-rate this term in the blue and white hooped shirt has been £350,000 midfield signing from Manchester United Grant Brebner, whose eight goals include the lone strike one City's visit to the Madejski Stadium ten weeks ago.

Just goes to show that bargains can still be had even in these days of football's mega-inflation.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.