Royals beaten by the Shrews in RG2
Reading fell to a first home loss since December at the hands of Shrewsbury Town on Saturday afternoon.
The start of the game didn't go the way of the Royals, with our visitors setting out of the traps like a train. After winning a corner on the right hand side, a set piece that seemed to come straight off the training ground saw the taker fire a floated cross to the edge of the area in the direction of the expectant Jordan Shipley. The Reading defence couldn't get out to the Shrewsbury midfielder in time to stop him firing a volley in the direction of Button's goal. Seemingly unsight, our number 1 couldn't stop the ball flying into the top left hand corner of his net to put the Shrews ahead.
Just two minutes later Paul hurst's side had doubled their advantage and sent their travelling supporters into raptures. This time Tom Bayliss pounced on a ball forward, outmuscled Tyler Bindon and slotted in the bottom corner - work to do for the Royals in the next 85 minutes of the game.
Undeterred by the set back, Rubén Sellés' team halved the deficit just four minutes later. Good work from Harvey Knibbs to cut in from the left hand side saw him feed Sam Smith through on goal, and our number 10 kept his composure to slot into the bottom left corner of Marosi's net - game on.
Reading would keep carving out opportunities with strong possession in the midfield and created a couple of headed efforts towards goal. Both Smith and Bindon would see their efforts go narrowly over from searching Clinton Mola crosses into the box. Ehibhatiomhan would also see his honesty go against him when he marched through on goal only to be impeded by the defender. Staying on this feet he couldn't quite find an opportunity to shoot and the defence dealt with the danger.
Despite this disappointment, the big forward wouldn't have to wait too long to get his name on the scoresheet however. Seizing on a ball across the edge of the Shrews box, Kelvin would shimmy onto his right as we have seen him do so many times before and let fly from the edge of the area. The defender seemed to have done enough to deflect the ball, but would only see his efforts float the ball over the helpless Marosi in goal. A spirited fight back from the Royals to pull level before the break.
With the half looking like it will end with the teams level, there would be late drama as Salop took the lead once more. Pouncing on the ball outside the Royals box, midfielder Tom Bloxham would unleash a spectacular effort that would nestle into the top corner of Button's goal. A tough one to take for the Royals after fighting so valiantly to get level, but with 45 minutes ahead there was still time for Rubén's side to get something out of the game.
Half-Time: Reading 2-3 Shrewsbury Town
The Royals tried to find the ascendancy in the second half, with Clinton Mola having the first chance of the half just two minutes after the interval. Picking up the ball from the right hand side he would take one touch to settle himself before firing a half volley goalwards from all of 30 yards. The effort would have Marosi in the Shrews goal scrambling, but he would have been relieved to see it go narrowly wide of his left hand post.
In the 54th minute Ehibhatiomhan would be the next Royals player to take aim. After good work from Knibbs to find the big man, he would shimmy past two Shrews defenders and onto his right foot, only to see his powerful effort go over the bar.
Enjoying much of the ball and territory in the Shrewsbury half the Royals were battling to find a way back into the game, but were faced by a deep and regimented team who gave the hosts very little room to manoeuvre in the key areas of the pitch.
As the match crept into the final 15 minutes the Royals tested the Shrewsbury keeper courtesy of Femi Azeez on the right hand side. Picking up on a teasing ball into the box from Clinton Mola, Femi twisted in the box, sat down one of the defenders and fire a shot goalwards. He seemed to strike the ball well, but the Shrews number one was able to parry away for a corner.
The Royals would toil in the search for an equaliser, and would add young impetus from the bench as Jayden Wareham would come on for his home league debut. Despite our best efforts however, we would be denied a point from a stubborn Shrewsbury side.
Full-Time: Reading 2-3 Shrewsbury Town
Reading: Button, Mola, Knibbs, Savage (Elliott 64'), Smith, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan (Mukairu 64'), Yiadom © (Wareham 86'), Bindon, Mbengue, Wing,
Unused Subs: Pereira, Monlouis, Abrefa, Craig
Goals: Smith (9'), Ehibhatiomhan (36')
Yellow Card: Yiadom (19'), Wing (79'), Smith (90'), Mola (90')
Shrewsbury Town: Marosi, Benning, Feeeney, Winchester, Hinchy, Bowman, Pierre (Sraha 31'), Bloxham (Perry 83'), Bayliss (Sobowale 83'), Dunkley (c), Shipley
Unused Subs: Burgoyne, Bennett, O'Brien, Kenneh
Goals: Shipley (3'), Bayliss (5'), Bloxham (45')
Yellow Card: Benning (32'), Bowman (58'), Hinchy (49')
Attendance = 12,904
Away = 783