Reading: Whitehead, Hughes, Mackie, Williams, Shorey, Igoe (Henderson 83), Parkinson, Watson (Harper 73), Salako, Forster, Cureton (Rougier 68). Subs not used: Ashdown, Viveash.

Chesterfield: Abbey, Payne, Breckin, Howson, O'Hare (Rowland 75), Williams (Allott 45), Ebdon, Booty, Innes, Burt, Hurst. Subs not used: Willis, Richmond, Wilding.

Bookings: Booty, Breckin, Howson, Rowland (Chesterfield); Forster (Reading).
Referee: K Hill (Royston)

As the pack edge closer so Reading ease open the throttle and pull away again Madjestically.
Phew. That's more like it.
This wasn't a great game to watch with too much scrappy play but Reading controlled it and deservedly won. We took the lead with a rasping shot from just outside the box by Fozzie which went in off the underside of the bar. Then, on the stroke of half-time Cureton confirmed our superiority turning a parry from the goalkeeper into the top corner. The strikes came, mind you, after Chesterfield's pint-sized Jamie Burt had hit the post. I recall watching him playing for Whitby Town against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup earlier in the season and here, like there, he was clearly the home-side's best player. He was once a peer of Michael Owen's in an England junior team, you know. This was a day for the diddymen since, along with the scorers, Igoe buzzed around busily up front. Perhaps between them they should have got another goal or two in the second-half.
At the other end of the pitch - and size scale - Whitehead preserved our advantage with several sound saves during a purple patch for Chesterfield in the second half. Saltergate is a decaying, rusting, Elm Park of a ground. The covered terrace opposite the main stand is closed and the club shop is a shed. No mega-store or Jamie Burt bedspreads for sale here. In fact, this is exactly the sort of ground that we don't want to be going to next season. Which, on this evidence, we won't. These were big points.
-- Paul Kirkwood, York.

I had this down as the day we would start to panic. Brentford & Brighton had 'easy' home games whilst we had a tough away fixture at Chesterfield. Thankfully my fears were unfounded as Chesterfield were comfortably swept aside, and Brighton and Brentford only just scraped wins. So it's as we were then, but with another game down I think three wins from six will do it now.
Looking at the run in Brighton have the easiest, whilst Brentford and the Royals have some tough fixtures, but we do have the handy advantage of a six point lead over Brentford. We are talking vintage cock ups now if we are not going to go up now, but I don't know about everyone else, I am still shitting myself. I seem to be spending my whole time working out mathematical scenarios and studying the fixture lists of all the clubs in the top six, I just hope my wife doesn't bugger off with someone not quite as sad as me (It's nearly over darling don't go, everything's going to be okay).
I actually met my wife the day Mark McGhee's team of '94 Reading won division two after beating Brighton of all teams. Wouldn't it be ironic if she left me the day we won the championship again, pipping the same team we beat on that glorious May afternoon eight years ago.
-- Bob Lethaby

Just got back to the seaside, having travelled to Chesterfield, and stayed at a mate's in Reading last night. A great day out, and three points. It still amazes me how even when we are 2 up, and in total control, we somehow manage to panic, and let the opposition back in the game. It was a good job Chesterfield were crap, as otherwise I am sure they would have broken us in the strange period in the middle of the second half. Anyway, thats irrelevant now, as long as we dont play like that for 20 minutes or so in any of our remaining, more difficult away games. Watson was just what the doctor ordered. He looked knackered when he was substituted, but with a week in the camp before Oldham, I believe he will be the midfield calmer that we need for the final push. Isn't it good to see Notts County winning four on the trot, and peaking just as they are due to visit the Withdean? Still think we need another 10 points to be sure, but as said earlier in these opinions, we would need an almighty cock up to fail now. I have to make a mention of the excellent Royal Oak pub, which is about 4 miles from Chesterfield's ground. I've never walked into a pub before to be confronted straight away with whether or not I fancied a shag. At a pound a bottle it was hard to say no. It was of course, bottled lager. Great idea, shame about the quality. Nothing new there!
-- Kevin, Worthing Royal.

Couldn't get to game but live reports from Big Paddy and Bob the Builder reported a comfortable classy performance from the super Royals. Two super goals will make the long trip home so enjoyable. True fans! With all our so called rivals winning at home as expected, the result today will arguably prove to be the day we secured our destiny in this poxy league. Next week is the chance, with us at home and most of the pursuers away, we have a golden opportunity to put so much pressure on the followers that a win against Oldham who were thrashed at home today, would see us nearly home and hosed. Forster back today proved how vital he is to us with his pace putting the fear of god up most defences we encounter. We've now three at home and three away, win our home games we'll get promoted, the championship will be a bonus!
Well done lads, brilliant result, time to crack open a cold can I reckon! URZ!
-- Nick Newbury

My opinion is that it's good to have friends to stay with in Derbyshire, even if they're Chesterfield supporters. Great evening - a couple of pints of Timothy Taylor's, a decent curry, several bottles of Rioja, and still enough change out of a fiver to feed the whippet.
Thought Burt of Chesterfield was their best player - apparently he's been a revelation since they found he was blind as a bat and fitted him with contact lenses. He gave Shorey a fairly difficult time. Glad Chesterfield didn't score early in the second half, they looked the kind of side who might have caused us grief had they got back into the game. Generally, though, we looked a class above the opposition. Cracking goal from Jamie. He remains, like the rest of the weekend, a definite bargain.
-- Hook Royal No. 6