By Reading FC

Royals get back to winning ways in RG2

Goals from Harvey Knibbs and Ben Elliott saw Reading record victory after going behind against Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.

A sun basked Select Car Leasing Stadium saw both teams look for an early opening in the encounter, and it was the visitors who had the first chance of the game with Josh Koroma firing a fortunately tame shot towards David Button's near post - the keeper more than equal to it.

Chem Campbell on the Royals right hand side was looking to cause trouble for the Terriers defence, weaving inside to get a ball across the face of goal, but it was unfortunately overhit. The delivery signalled the end of an even opening ten minutes that saw defences on top against their attacking counterparts.

The 15 minute mark saw Rubén Sellés' side carve out an opening following good work on the left wing from Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan. The forward used his pace to beat his marker and fire what looked to be a menacing ball into the box, but despite Sam Smith's distraction tactics, Jacob Chapman in the Terriers goal was able to smother.

Ben Elliott went into the referee's book for a foul on Antony Evans just outside the Royals box on 19 minutes, and it would prove costly. Evans picked himself up and fired a freekick that struck the upright, before Matthew Pearson was quickest to the rebound and nodded home from just a couple of yards - 1-0 to the visitors.

Reading looked for an immediate response, with the lively Ehibhatiomhan looking to cause the Huddersfield defence issues. Breaking forward on the left hand side, he was felled by Brodie Spencer, which drew a yellow card for the full back on the edge of the area. Lewis Wing's resulting freekick looked to be headed goalwards, but was cleared by the Huddersfield defence.

It didn't take long for the Royals to have parity however, with Harvey Knibbs firing into the roof of the net on 30 minutes. Some unsure defending from the Terriers saw Knibbs win the ball in a 50/50, stride forward into the box and bury his effort into the near post - game on!

The two goals opened up the game with both sides looking for a second of the afternoon. Huddersfield full back Spencer called Button into action with a fired shot on the angle, but the Royals shot stopper was able to tip over the bar superbly. 

Antony Evans had the visiting supporters off their feet in the 38th minute when he curled an effort from 30 yards that looked to have hit the back of the net. Fortunately for the Royals, an optical illusion occured with the ball striking the back stantion and gliding across the back of the goal rather than in it!

Huddersfield would enjoy the better of the final stages of the half, with Pearson almost finding the net again with a header from a corner. But the Royals would go into the break level after fighting back well into the tie.

Half-time: Reading 1-1 Huddersfield Town

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The second period got underway in the same fashion as the first one ended, which both sides looking to get on the front foot. Within a minute, Huddersfield has already won a corner, whilst down the other end Sam Smith had put stand-in keeper Chapman under pressure outside his box.
 
A further 'mad minute' was the come. The Terriers thought they had retaken the lead as Pearson headed home from a set piece on the right hand side, only to see the linesman's flag raised. The visitors switched off from the restart and Harvey Knibbs was sent through on goal, but was fouled by Jaheim Headley, who went into the referee's book for the foul.
 
Rubén Sellés' side started the half on the front foot, and 12 minutes into the period we had the lead for the first time in the game. Excellent link up play between Ehibhatiomhan and Lewis Wing saw the ball break to Elliott on the edge of the box. The midfielder shimmied onto his right foot and drilled a low effort into the bottom left hand corner of Marshall's goal!
 
Huddersfield looked to find a way back into the game with a quadruple substitution just after the hour mark, whilst the Royals brought on Adrian Akande in place of Chem Campbell as we entered the final quarter of the game.
 
Button would have to be at his brightest best to stop the visitors getting on level terms, with the number one smothering a close range header from a corner.
 
The Terriers pressed and harried in search of an equaliser against a dogged Reading defence in the final ten minutes. The Royals backline reduced Michael Duff's side to half chances until we entered the six alloted minutes of added time at the end of the game, with heart rates of all supporters in attendance through the roof no doubt.
 
The home fans serenaded the players with a rousing rendition of 'Blue Army' to will their team over the finish line, and it proved to be enough as Rubén Sellés' side negotiated a tricky period with relative ease to take the victory!
 

Full-time: Reading 2-1 Huddersfield Town

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Reading: Button, Abrefa (Dean 80'), Elliott (Savage 80'), Craig, Knibbs, Ehibhatiomhan, Smith, Campbell (Akande 70'), Bindon, Mbengue, Wing ©
Subs: Boyce-Clarke, Rushesha, Wareham, Garcia
Goals: Knibbs (30'), Elliot (57')
Yellow: Elliott (20'), 

Huddersfield Town: Chapman, Pearson, Hogg © (Hodge 82'), Marshall (Radulovic 62'), Koroma, Headley (Miller 62'), Spencer (Sorensen 62'), Kasumu (Wiles 62'), Evans, Lonwijk, Lees
Subs: Hurl, Ladapo
Goals: Pearson (21')
Yellow: Spencer (22'), Headley (49'), Kasumu (62')