Read our report of the action from the second home win of the week
Kelvin Ehibitiomhan's brace capped off an excellent performance to see the Royals pick up all three points at home against ten-man Stevenage.
The Nigerian headed home from Charlie Savage's corner just before half-time, and tapped in from close-range in the second half to secure the victory.
Stevenage, who were reduced to ten-men early on after Nathan Thompson's red card, were deservedly beaten by Rubén Sellés' team, with the win seeing the side move up to 13th in League One
The first few minutes of this encounter indicated it was set to be a very open, lively affair. The first chance fell to Jake Forster-Caskey, whose curled effort from the edge of area was easily held by David Button.
Reading's first sight of goal came soon after, with some good work down the right from Mamadi Camara allowing a pull-back to Ehibhatiomhan on the edge of the area, but his directed effort passed agonisingly wide of the bottom right-hand corner.
After an entertaining start the game turned into a more scrappy affair, with the visitors picking up two early yellow cards for their troubles. Some more good work from Mbengue down the right saw a low cross fizzed into the box, but Stevenage 'keeper Krisztian Hegyi claimed it easily.
Some pinball in the Reading box allowed Jordan Roberts some time and space in the penalty area, but his eventual shot went just over the bar, letting off the Royals defence.
Nathan Thompson was one of the Boro players to go into the book early, and played the price for his aggressive style when he brought down Harvey Knibbs to earn his second yellow, and see the visitors reduced to ten men.
The Royals almost made the most of the man advantage immediately when an Mbengue long-throw was headed towards his own goal by Stevenage defender Finley Burns, but Hegyi recovered well to tip it over the bar.
It would still not be an easy ask for Reading, a fact they were reminded off when Button was forced into a point-blank save from an Aaron Pressley header, which the 'keeper did well to push onto the post.
Reading were certainly on top since the red card, with excellent work from Caylan Vickers keeping the ball in play. He then sent the defender the wrong way before finding Camara in the box, but his driven effort was blocked.
However, the ball was still alive, with Mbengue able to deliver a cross after the ball was won back. Camara was found once again, but his headed effort was straight at the 'keeper.
Stevenage were not out of this by any means, with Button forced into two good saves to keep out first Roberts and then Forster-Caskey.
With half-time looming, Reading needed something to show for their good first-half work. It would soon come, with more good work from Mbengue down the right earned Reading a late corner.
Savage whipped in the delivery, finding an unmarked Ehibhatiomhan, who made no mistake in burying his header into the back of the net to give Sellés' side a deserved lead.
Half-time: Reading 1-0 Stevenage
As expected, it was a tight start to the second-half, with both teams being caught offside as they looked to create something. Substitute Femi Azeez created the first real chance, cutting onto his left foot outside the area, but his attempted curl effort went over the bar.
And almost out of nothing, the Royals had a second! Tyler Bindon produced the most spectacular over-the-top ball from well inside his own half to find a charging Mbengue on the right-hand side, who muscled past Dan Butler into the area.
He managed to get off a shot across goal, which Hegyi got a hand to but pushed it straight into the path of Ehibhatiomhan, who couldn't miss, scoring his, and Reading's second of the game.
The second goal saw Reading assume almost complete control of the game, with Azeez given the perfect opportunity to grab a third. Andy Yiadom played in a cross from the right that took a deflection straight to the number 11 a few yards out, but some excellent work from Hegyi kept out his goalward effort.
Azeez was involved once again after a lovely through ball from Sam Hutchinson released on the wing. Ehibhatiomhan was waiting for his cross in the middle but his attempted delivery was excellently caught out by Burns to prevent an almost-certain hat-trick for Kelvin.
You couldn't the winger out of the match at this point, with some great work down the right seeing him charge into the area and pull it back, perfectly setting up Paul Mukairu on debut, but the Nigerian missed the ball and a great chance at a first goal for the club.
In the dying minutes of the game, Ehibhatiomhan thought he had his hat-trick when he pounced after Hegyi spilled the ball, but the linesman ruled him offside. The 'keeper did make amends with an impressive diving effort to keep out Savage's free-kick with what turned out to be the last action of the match.
Three points, two goals for our striker, one brilliant performance, and Ben Elliott and Mukairu looking bright on debut. What more could you ask for on a Saturday?
Full-time: Reading 2-0 Stevenage
Reading: Button, Carson (McIntyre 73), Mbengue (Yiadom 73), Bindon, Abbey, Hutchinson, Savage, Knibbs (Azeez 38), Camara (Mukairu 60), Ehibhatiomhan, Vickers (Elliott 73).
Unused subs: Boyce-Clarke, Dean.
Goals: Ehibhatiomhan 45+4, 57.
Stevenage: Hegyi, Butler, N. Thompson, Piergianni, Forster-Caskey, Roberts (Hannam 67), Smith (Neal 11), Burns, Reid (MacDonald 24), Pressley, L. Thompson (B. Thompson HT).
Unused subs: Ashby-Hammond, List.
Yellow cards: N Thompson 5, 22, Reid 10, MacDonald 26, Neal 69.
Red cards: N Thompson 22.
Attendance: 11,674 (578 away).