A point earned on the road
Reading came back from a goal down to earn a draw at Stevenage, with Harvey Knibb's goal in the final ten minutes enough to secure a point.
Ahead of kick off, both teams and all in attendance observed a minute silence in honour of the fallen and those who continue to serve in our armed forces.
The hosts got the game underway, kicking in the unusual direction towards their own supporters in the first half. Despite the change, Boro had their first foray into the Reading box with just 20 seconds on the clock, Dan Kemp skipping through the Royals defence but unable to get a shot off.
The opening ten minutes didn't yield a chance of note for either side, but Rubén Sellés' will have been buoyed by a confident start on a grey Hertfordshire afternoon.
Chem Campbell looked to grab the game by the scruff of the neck on 15 minutes, with a mazy run from the right wing into the Stevenage box. The forward looked to feed Harvey Knibbs, but the mass of Stevenage defenders were able to deflect our number 7's shot in the air and into the arms of Cooper in the Boro goal.
Midfielder Ben Elliott was the first player to test Cooper with a shot on target. Fast and effective press from the Royals saw Mamadi Camara win the ball in dangerous territory, before feeding Campbell who subsquently passed to Elliott. The number four was able to get a shot off that took a small deflection, but it was easily smothered by the Boro keeper.
Pereira was called into action on 25 minutes, spreading his frame wide enough to stop a close range strike from Kemp. The Royals responded well, with a flowing move forward resulting in a corner, but despite a good ball in from Charlie Savage, the set piece came to nothing.
The opening goal of the game arrived on the half hour mark, the lively Kemp volleying home from close range. The striker had peeled off from his marker to latch onto a Nick Freeman cross, and was able to fire a measured shot past Pereira in the Royals goal - a tough one to take for the visitors who had made a bright start to the game.
Rubén's side responded well to going behind, with Savage forcing Cooper into a smart stop down to his left hand side on 33 minutes. A proactive spell of possession saw Lewis Wing enjoy enough space to feed the Welshman in the box, and whilst his left footed shot looked to be going into the far corner, the Boro keeper had other ideas.
As the game entered the final five minutes of the half, Campbell sent in a teasing cross that was initially misjudged by Cooper as his punch went soaring into the air. Savage was the first to the ball and sent a smart touch inside to Elliott, but his shot goalwards sailed wide of the post.
The half came to a close following two minutes of added time. A tough pill to swallow for the Royals as they headed into the dressing room, but 45 more minutes ahead to find a way back into the game.
Half-time: Stevenage 1-0 Reading
Jeriel Dorsett came on to make his first appearance for the Royals since his injury in late September, he replaced Andre Garcia at left back for the second period.
The Royals looked to start the half on the front foot, and enjoyed a period of possession before Michael Craig was fouled on the right hand side. Lewis Wing sent the ball into the box that was cleared for a corner, with the resulting set piece coming to nothing.
The first chance of the half went the way of Savage on 52 minutes. Smart play down the right hand side saw Elliott get in front of his marker and find Savage from 12 yards out, but the Welshman's effort was blocked.
Elliott himself had a chance a minute later, he went one better and beat the approaching defender, but Cooper managed to get two hands to the strike and fist away.
The Royals' strong start to the half continued with Michael Craig the next to shoot goalwards. Neat link up play between the full back and Camara saw Craig shoot goalwards on his left foot, but the resolute Stevenage defence blocked once more.
An indicator of the Rubén Sellés' side pushing forward was emphasised when the hosts had a four vs two attack on the counter. Bindon and Mbengue needed to be at their tactical best to thwart the attack, and the centre back pairing did so well to slow the attack down and block the effort from Simpson.
On 58 minutes Mamadi Camara made way for Jayden Wareham to enter the fray.
Just past the hour mark Lewis Wing had a set piece opportunity that has so often reaped rewards in the past. The skipper was able to loop a shot on target, but the capture was comfortable for Cooper who caught in the centre of his goal.
Elliott went into the referees book for what was adjudged to be a late challenge just outside the host's box.
The tie entered the final quarter with the Royals still on the hunt for an equaliser. The recently introduced Wareham was so close to getting his head onto a Savage cross, but the Boro defence was able to deflect at the final moment.
Ashqar Ahmed entered the fray in place of Craig with 15 minutes of the 90 remaining, and was into the action quickly, winning a corner after finding a promising position inside the Stevenage box.
Reading got their just rewards for a half camped in the Boro half when Harvey Knibbs drew his side level on 82 minutes. Tenacious play from Campbell on the right hand side saw the forward stay on his feet despite being fouled repeatedly, and his second attempt to square the ball saw him find Knibbs to fire home.
On the hunt for a winner the impressive Elliott struck goalwards from 12 yards out, his bobbling effort looked to cause Cooper issues but the keeper managed to adjust his position to palm away from goal.
In the final stages it became clear that the hosts would be most thankful to Cooper for his heroics between the sticks this afternoon. As the game entered added time, Campbell had a strike that looked to have deflected into the bottom corner, but the keeper got down so quickly to deflect away.
Knibbs went close in added time to winning the tie and bagging his second goal of the game. A pinpoint ball from the right hand side by Ahmed found the goalscoring forward, but on the run he was only able to fire over.
The referee blew the final whistle after five minutes of added time, a spirited performance on the road for Rubén's Royals who return to Berkshire with a point.
Full-time: Stevenage 1-1 Reading
Stevenage: Cooper, Butler, Thompson, Piergianni©, Freeman (King 85'), Kemp, Simpson (List 75'), Smith, White, Reid (Young 89'), Phillips
Subs: Ashby-Hammond, Freestone, Pressley, Doherty
Goals: Kemp (30')
Reading: Pereira, Elliott, Craig (Ahmed 75'), Knibbs, Savage, Campbell, Bindon, Mbengue, Camara (Wareham 59'), Wing©, Garcia (Dorsett 46')
Subs: Button, Holzman, Akande, Spencer
Goals: Knibbs (82')
Yellow: Elliott (65')