Stockport take the points in RG2
A chilly and dreary Berkshire afternoon saw Reading fall to a 3-1 home defeat to fellow Play-Off hopefuls Stockport County.
It was a fast start for the visitors, who took the lead just inside the opening five minutes courtesy of a Macaulay Southam-Hales header from a corner. The number 12 got ahead of his marker and was able to nod across goal into the far corner, a tough start for the hosts.
Tyler Bindon went close to bringing the Royals level on ten minutes when he latched onto a Lewis Wing free kick from six yards out, but the defender was unable to get enough on the ball and it bounced wide.
It was a miss the Royals would rue, as County doubled their lead on 13 minutes with Callum Connolly heading home from close range. It almost got worse within a further minute with Isaac Olaofe heading over Pereira but Bindon able to clear off the line.
The Royals were striving to get back into the game, but it was the visitors who looked more likely to extend their lead based on chances created. In a two minute spell on 25 minutes, Olaofe, Norwood and Wootton all spurned chances for County to make it three.
In our hunt to find a way back into the game, the Royals did make some promising forays into Stockport territory but were either thwarted by strong defence from the Hatters or the offside flag.
On the stroke of half time Andre Garcia went into the book for a push off the ball, County's Ethan Pye would join him for his reaction to the incident.
Three minutes additional time was signalled, but by the time the referee's whistle sounded five and a half minutes had been played. The Royals wents in two goals down, with a big 15 minutes ahead to regroup as we looked for a way back into the tie.
Half Time: Reading 0-2 Stockport County
The second period got underway with Noel and his coaching staff opting to make a change - the returning Jeriel Dorsett coming on in place of Abraham Kanu at left back.
Former Royal Ollie Norwood had the first chance of the half, striking over from all of 25 yards. Moments later, Tyler Bindon needed to be at his best to hook the ball away on his own goal line after a second ball was headed across the box.
As the game creeped towards the hour mark Lewis Wing had a freekick opportunity from 25 yards, but his effort struck the wall and evade danger.
A double change was made on the hour mark. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan coming on for his first action since October replaced Andre Garcia, whilst Michael Craig also returned in place of Tivonge Rushesha.
Within mere seconds the Royals were back in it courtesy of a volleyed effort from Sam Smith inside the box. A Lewis Wing free kick from out wide was aimed in the direction of our number 10, and the forward hooked a strike towards goal and into the bottom left corner.
County substitute Jack Diamond had a huge chance to put his side two goals ahead once more just after the hour mark when he went through on goal from the halfway line. A combination of Bindon pressure and a fantastic low Joel Pereira save kept the Royals in the game.
Diamond would make no mistake on 68 minutes however, as he was afforded far too much space in the centre of the box to shoot home past a helpless Joel Pereira - 3-1 to the visitors.
Chem Campbell was a whisker away from making it 3-2 in the 73rd minute after great play on the left had wing from substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan. The returning number nine shimmied into the box and sent a ball towards the penalty spot, but Campbells poke goalwards went agonisingly wide.
The game entered the final stages with Kelvin Abrefa coming on in place of Campbell, but the visitors, as they had done all game saw the match out resolutely.
Six minutes of added time was signalled, with a melee in the box seeing the Royals go close to shortening the deficit - but the yellow wall stood firm once more.
The referee's whistle sounded with the Royals falling to defeat at home for just the third time in the league this season.
Full-Time: Reading 1-3 Stockport County
Reading: Pereira, Dean, Knibbs, Savage, Smith, Rushesha (Craig 60'), Campbell (Abrefa 77'), Bindon, Wing ©, Garcia (Ehibhatiomhan 60'), Kanu (Dorsett 46')
Subs: Button, Wareham, Sackey
Goals: Smith (61')
Yellows: Garcia (45+1'), Savage (51'), Smith (88')
Stockport County: Hinchliffe, Knoyle, Touray, Camps, Olaofe (Diamond 48'), Southam-Hales, Collar (Fiorini 73'), Pye, Connolly, Wootton ©, Norwood
Subs: Addai, Mingi, Andresson, Rydel, Gardner
Goals: Southam Hales (5'), Connolly (13'), Diamond (68')
Yellow: Pye (45+1')