Report | Wrexham 3-0 Reading

The Royals got the game underway backed by a sold out away end of just shy of 1,300 supporters at the Racecourse Ground, with both sides looking to seize the upperhand in the opening exchanges.

An even opening ten minutes saw the hosts claim the first chance of note in the game, with the hosts letting fly with a free kick from 25 yards. Ben Elliott had felled Ollie Palmer to give the Dragons the opportunity, but Elliott Lee's effort sailed a good yard high and wide of the upright.

The Royals had to wait until the 14th minute for our first sight of goal. Sublime build up play down the right hand side between Michael Craig, Adrian Akande and Ben Elliott saw the latter square the ball across the face of goal. Welsh international Charlie Savage picked up possession and fired an effort goalwards, unfortunately the strike was well blocked from close range.

It signalled the start of a good spell of possession in promising territory for Rubén Sellés' side, however chances of note were few and far between as both teams nulified the threat of the other.

The deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute, as 6ft5 striker Ollie Palmer rose highest to nod home the opening goal of the game for the Dragons. A cross from the right handside was aimed in the direction of the giant striker, and there was only going to be one winner in the duel with the Royals backline.

The goal kickstarted the game into life, as Reading looked for an immediate response. The Royals had two half shouts for penalties waved away, before Wrexham broke forward on the counter attack, with Jack Marriott stinging the palms of Joel Pereira in goal.

The lively Adrian Akande on the right wing broke free of Tom O'Connor on the half hour mark, but his cross come shot sailed over Arthur Okonkwo's goal without troubling the keeper.

It was the Dragons who doubled their lead however rather than the Royals getting back into the game. A quick break forward from the hosts saw James McClean hit the post before Joel Pereira followed up with phenomenal double save before Elliott Lee fired home from inside the six yard box.

As was the case after the opening goal, the Royals looked for an immediate response. Tyler Bindon nodded an effort goalwards that skimmed the top of the bar, whilst Ben Elliott fired over from the edge of the box as the game entered the final ten minutes of the opening period.

Reading pressed for a way back into the game ahead of the break, but it was the hosts who went in two goals to the good at the break.

Half-time: Wrexham 2-0 Reading

An unchanged Reading side made their way back onto the Racecourse Ground turf in the hope of finding a way back into the game after a tough half in North Wales.

It was to go from bad to worse however, as three minutes into the half Andy Cannon gave Wrexham a third goal with a fizzed effort from outside the Royals box. The backline were unable to get close enough to the onrushing midfielder, and his strike was too powerful for a sprawling Joel Pereira.

Charlie Savage had the opportunity to get one goal back for his team, as he latched onto a Sam Smith header inside the Wrexham box. He managed to get underneath his strike however, and the ball sailed a couple of yards over the Wrexham bar.

Despite glimpses of chances around the host's box, it was the Dragons who looked the more likely to add a fourth goal in the game. James McClean found space on the left hand to fire a volley over the bar, before Elliott Lee was inches away from heading home from six yards out.

Lewis Wing had a sighter of goal in the 68th minute after good play from Sam Smith to win a free kick on the corner of the box. The captain for the day bent his effort towards the top left hand corner, but it went agonisingy over the bar. 

Shortly after Jeriel Dorsett bravely went in for arguably the Royals' best chance of the half, but the onrushing Okonkwo was able to block at short range - whilst also taking out our defender in the process.

Wing was able to fire another effort goalwards from 25 yards, but the effort in the 83rd minute went over the bar. Tivonge Rushesha went closer as we entered the final throes of the game, with the substitute seeing his effort bounce down off the bar but not cross the line - a fair reflection of how the day had gone for the Royals.

The referee would call time on the game after six minutes injury time, on what was a disappointing afternoon for the Royals. 

Full-time: Wrexham 3-0 Reading

Wrexham: Okonkwo, Cleworth, O'Connell, O'Conner, McClean (c), Cannon (Jones 81'), Palmer (Fletcher 66'), Marriott (Mullin 73'), Dobson, Barnett (Revan 81'), Lee
Subs: Burton, Bolton, Revan, Scarr
Goals: Palmer (23'), Lee (33'), Cannon (49')

Reading: Pereira, Dorsett (Garcia 76'), Elliott (Abrefa 83'), Craig, Savage (Rushesha 76'), Ehibhatiomhan, Smith (Wareham 76'), Bindon, Mbengue, Wing (c), Akande (Tuma 76')
Subs: Boyce-Clarke, Dean
Yellow: Smith (28'), Elliott (56')