Royals take all the spoils against Wrexham
Reading put in a blistering second half display to take all three points in Tuesday evening's Sky Bet League One match with Wrexham at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The visitors got the game underway kicking towards the Eamonn Dolan Stand, with both sets of supporters in good voice.
The Royals were the first side to mount an attack in the tie. Andre Garcia had initially won a free kick in an advanced position, giving Charlie Savage an opportunity to cross into the box. It was a good ball, but it couldn't quite break to a Reading player and it was cleared for a Royals throw in an attacking position.
From that throw Tyler Bindon launched it into the box and it broke to Savage, whose powerful volley was blocked - a front footed start to the game for Noel Hunt's side.
Jayden Wareham was leading the line this evening and tried his luck from distance just past the ten minute mark. It was an opportunist effort that required the forward to acrobatically volley goalwards, and his effort from all of 30 yards went just over Arthur Okonkwo's bar.
The midway point in the half came with the hosts slightly on top, but neither with neither keeper called into action it was even stevens up to that point.
Former Royal Sam Smith had the first shot for the visitors in the 25th minute, hitting a vicious left footed volley goalwards that was blocked exceptionally well by Tyler Bindon at close quarters.
Our New Zealand international had the better of Smith once again in the 29th minute, when the forward jinked forward but saw his strike well blocked by the giant Kiwi - an exciting battle between the two former teammates.
After good work from Harvey Knibbs on 36 minutes to nick possession from Sebastian Raven in Wrexham territory, he picked out Savage with a pass and the Welshman was able to shoot from distance. His right footed effort was hit with power, but it deflected off Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and the number nine was flagged for offside.
The best chance of the half fell to the visitors in the 39th minute when a James McClean cross was volleyed goalwards by Ryan Barnett. The wideman made a good connection and it seemed to be destined for the back of the net, but instinctive defending from Michael Stickland saw the youngster able to direct the shot over the bar.
In the final minute of the half Lewis Wing had an opportunity to shoot goalwards with a freekick from 25 yards in a central position. The Skipper wasn't quite able to lift the ball over the Wrexham wall, but he did leave a receipt on the face of Smith who felt the full impact of the strike - welcome back Sam!
One minute added time was indicated and the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the opening period - a tight affair in RG2.
Half-time: Reading 0-0 Wrexham
The second half got underway with the tie on a knife edge after a tight opening 45 in RG2.
Both sides had efforts from range in the opening three minutes, Savage for the Royals saw his effort go wide whilst Tom O'Connor's volley from the corner of the box nestled safely in Joel Pereira's arms.
On 49 minutes Noel Hunt's side had a chance to open their account from the penalty spot when Jayden Wareham was felled inside the corner of the box. The striker did the job of ball caretaker before Harvey Knibbs stepped up to strike from 12 yards, and the number seven did what he does best and converted with all the pressure on his shoulders - a great start to the half for the Royals.
There was almost an immediate second when Savage and Ehibhatiomhan linked up to feed the ball to Wareham, but the strikers shot was skewed wide.
The Royals had their mojo, and doubled their lead just five minutes after going ahead. Sublime build up play around the box saw the goalscorer of the first Knibbs fijnd the skipper on the edge of the box, and the number 29 made no mistake firing a piledriver into the bottom right hand corner.
Pereira was at his acrobatic best to punch away a Sam Smith header in the 66th minute, the offside flag had been raised but the Portuguese was able to parry away the danger nonetheless.
The game entered the final 20 minutes with plenty to hold onto for the Royals, but no doubt some pressure to weather from the Red Dragons.
The task of holding onto the lead was made more difficult when Michael Stickland was issued the harshest of second yellow cards after being adjudged to be time wasting. A reshuffle of the backline saw Harlee Dean come on to make his first appearance in over a month, Ehibhatiomhan making way for the experienced defender.
Despite the deficit in numbers, the Royals went so close to making it three with ten minutes remaning. A hopeful looping ball into the box from Wing saw Wareham win the header and Bindon volley goalwards from the penalty spot, but Okonkwo made a superb instinctive save to palm away.
Pereira preserved the hosts two goal lead with an instinctive save of his own when Garcia inadvertently diverted goalwards.
The tireless Wareham was replaced on 84 minutes and was replaced by club captain Andy Yiadom, a sign that Noel Hunt and his staff were looking to set up strongly defensively.
Seven minutes of added time was indicated at the end of the game, and Mamadi Camara was brought on to see out the tie in place of Chem Campbell.
The only chance of the additional time went the way of Mo Faal, who headed over from six yards with just Pereira to beat.
Noel Hunt's side held on to take all the spoils in a pulsating tie in RG2, a big three points, and a performance for everyone connected with the club to be proud of.
Full-time: Reading 2-0 Wrexham
Reading: Pereira, Abrefa, Knibbs, Savage, Ehibhatiomhan (Dean 78'), Wareham (Yiadom 84'), Campbell (Camara 90+1'), Bindon, Wing ©, Garcia, Stickland
Subs: Button, Carroll, Rushesha, Akande
Goals: Knibbs (51'), Wing (56')
Yellows: Stickland (48' & 76'), Pereira (68'), Savage (90+6')
Red: Stickland (76')
Wrexham: Okonkwo, Cleworth, O'Connell (Evans 83'), O'Connor, McClean © (Longman 71'), Rodriguez (Fletcher 71'), Rathbone (Faal 83'), Revan (Lee 59'), Smith, Barnett, James
Subs: Howard, Scarr
Attendance: 11,557 (736 visiting)