Royals strike late to seal victory
Harvey Knibbs was the hero from the spot as he side earned a hard fought victory over Rotherham United at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The Royals got the game underway and had a first half chance of the game within the first minute. Lewis Wing was fouled on the right hand wing and picked himself to send a teasing ball into the Millers penalty area. Kelvin Ehibatiomhan was able to get the first contect, and Chem Campbell was a whisker away from tapping in but the ball was cleared.
From the resulting throw in, Wing was able to find Charlie Savage in plenty of space on the edge of the area. The Welshman hit a first time left footed effort goalwards, and a worried Dillion Philips in the Rotherham goal was able to just tip over - a fast start for Noel Hunt's side.
In the 10th minute of the tie Jayden Wareham was a whisker away from giving the Royals the lead on the afternoon. A fine team move forward that was started by Ehibatiomhan saw the number nine find Wing before the skipper fed the ball to Michael Craig in advanced territory on the right hand side. The full back sent was able to compose himself and send a ball into the box to an expectant Wareham, but our striker just couldn't lunge forward enough to poke home at close range.
Savage was the next to have a go in the 18th minute, with another left footed effort sent goalwards from outside the box. This effort from all of 30 yards had Philips scrambling once again, but he was able to deflect clear to his right hand side.
The deadlock was broken in the 24th minute, and it came courtesy of Harvey Knibbs from close range. Ehibhatiomhan had hit the woodwork with a strike from the edge of the area, with Wareham the quickest to pounce on the loose ball to fire goalwards. His strike was saved by Philips, but he could only deflect to the expectant Knibbs, who had the easiest of tasks in passing into an empty net from six yards out.
Noel Hunt's side were agonisingly close to doubling their lead on 34 minutes. Neat interplay saw Craig feed the Wing with a delightful back-heeled pass inside the box, the Skipper would settle and fire goalwards but see Philips get the slightest of touches on the strike to deflect it onto the inside of the post and bounce across the goal line and clear.
The visitors had the ball in Joel Pereira's net in the 37th minute when Jordan Hugill tapping in first time from a cross in the box, he was adjudged by the referee to have pulled down Tyler Bindon in the box and a free kick was issue to the thankful Royals.
The home side had enjoyed much of the play in the opening period, but were lucky to go in ahead at the break after Sam Nombe fired over Pereira's bar from inside the six yard box.
Inside the one additional minute the Royals had a huge shout for a penalty when Wareham was felled inside the box, but the referee deemed it not worthy of a spot kick.
The Royals went in ahead at the break after a bright and positive half, with Knibbs goal on 24 minutes separating the teams.
Half time: Reading 1-0 Rotherham United
The second period got underway with both sides showing plenty of energy in the opening ten minutes.
On 56 minutes the Millers had a chance to draw themselves level from the spot when Wareham was adjudged to have handled inside the box. Top scorer Sam Nombe stepped up and coolly sent Pereira the wrong way to make it 1-1.
It almost went from bad to worse for the Royals just two minutes later when Reece James stung the hands of Pereira with a fierce back post volley, but the Portuguese was able to keep the effort out.
The visitors had the ball in the net for the third time of the afternoon on the hour mark, but as had been in the case in the first half, the effort was chalked off - this time for offside.
Amadou Mbengue had the first chance of note for the Royals of the second half, the defender was able to rise highest to get his head on a Lewis Wing free kick, but the attempt went over the bar.
A second chance in quick succession came when Andre Garcia went close to scoring his first senior goal. The young full back was able to find space 25 yards out to fizz a low drive to Philips' left hand side, but the keeper pulled off a sublime save to tip wide.
Mamadi Camara was introduced on 68 minutes in place of Wareham, and the substitute went close to scoring within a minute with a left footed strike that was saved once more by Philips. Savage was able to latch onto the rebound, but his strike was deflected for a corner when it looked to be heading into the back of the net.
Michael Craig was the next player to try and make something happen, when the full back embarked on a marauding run forward and struck at goal. The effort took a deflection an bounced wide for a corner, but it was a strong signal of intent for Craig and his teammates.
With four minutes of regulation time remaining Billy Bodin and Kelvin Abrefa were introduced in place of Ehibhatiomhan and Campbell.
The hosts had Pereira to thank for keeping the game level on 88 minutes when Mallik Wilks went through shot goalwards from the edge of the area, the Portuguese able to punch away the fierce strike.
In the five minutes of additional time Lewis Wing let fly from his traditional territory, and saw Philips claw away the shot and clear at the second attempt.
As the tie entered the 93rd minute the Royals had a huge chance to snatch the points when Harvey Knibbs was fouled inside the Rotherham box. The number seven picked himself up, and as he did in the dying stages of his side's victory against Bolton a fortnight ago, he slotted home from the spot to put his team ahead late on.
In the aftermath of the goal Abraham Kanu came on to replace Andre Garcia in defence.
The referee's whistle blew with Noel Hunt's Royals sealing victory late on courtesy of that man Knibbs again!
Final score: Reading 2-1 Rotherham United
Reading: Pereira, Craig, Knibbs, Savage, Ehibhatiomhan (Bodin 87'), Wareham (Camara 68'), Campbell (Abrefa 87'), Bindon, Mbengue, Wing ©, Garcia (Kanu 90+3')
Subs: Button, Rushesha, Holzman
Goals: Knibbs (25', 90+4')
Yellows: Knibbs (90+6')
Rotherham United: Phillips, Rafferty, James, Powell, Nombe (Kayode 90'), Hugill (Clarke-Harris 76'), Sibley (Wilks 76'), Jules, Odoffin ©, Humphreys, Mpanzu
Subs: Dawson, Green, Holmes, Hatton
Goals: Nombe (57')
Yellow: Humphreys (17'), James (35'), Jules (90+2')