News and Views
Reading To Play Harborough Town In Round Two
03 November 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Following the weekend's 2-0 home victory over Fleetwood in the first round of the FA Cup, the Royals have been drawn against Southern League Premier Central team Harborough Town. The seventh tier side are currently 16th in their divison - over 100 places below Reading in the football pyramid. The game will be Harborough's seventh FA Cup fixture of the season so far having got through all the qualifying rounds before a 4-1 first round proper victory away at Tonbridge Angels. The game will be played at the Select Car Leasing Stadium beetween 29 November and 2 December.
Royals Ease Into Round Two
02 November 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading eased into the second round of the FA Cup with a comfortable, if not convincing, two goal home win against mid table League Two opponents Fleetwood Town. In a congested fixture list, Ruben Selles understandably fielded several youngsters, including a debut for the impressive seventeen-year-old Ashqar Ahmed at right back, with a sprinkling of experienced regular first team players in the starting eleven or on the bench. Understandably, Reading took a while to settle into the game, but as the game progressed, the individual skill of the Reading players and the quality of their play left Fleetwood looking outclassed.
MATCH REPORT: FA Cup Round 1: Reading 2 Fleetwood 0 - Read More...
Reading Make It Three Wins From Three
26 October 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading climbed into the top six with their third successive victory in eight days, but it was a
far from comfortable victory against a feisty Rovers side. After being reduced to ten men
after fifty-five minutes, and falling behind to a subtle Sam Smith finish on sixty-six minutes,
they came back strongly. Denied a point by two excellent saves from Pereira in the closing
stages of a lively encounter, the travelling fans were clearly appreciative of their team's
efforts, enthusiastically applauding them off the pitch after the final whistle.
MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Bristol Rovers 0 - Read More...
Reading Hold On To Climb To Seventh
22 October 2024
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Despite constant late pressure from the home team, Reading held out to secure three more points at Exeter City and climb to seventh place in the League One - just outside of the play-off positions on goal difference. The Royals opted for several changes after the weekend's 4-1 home victory over Crawley Town, which included swapping the front three and handing Jayden Wareham his first league start for Reading after 13 appearances from the bench. From kick-off, and after 45 seconds of Exeter playing the ball around in their defensive third, Wareham made the perfect start when Knibbs stole the ball from the defender and passed to Wareham who fired across the goalkeeper, putting the ball inside the post to put Reading ahead inside the first minute.
Reading had been the better side in the first half and extended their lead with nine minutes left to play of the first half, again scoring inside the box with Exeter failing to deal with Reading pressure close to goal. Michael Craig took full advantage after a shot came back out to him to make it 2-0 at half time.
After the break, Exeter improved and Reading were forced to go on the defensive. After failing to take advantage moments before when they should have scored, Exter finally pulled one back on 58 minutes to set up a very nervous last 30 minutes for the travelling Reading fans. The final 10 minutes of the game Exeter dominated and it felt like it was just a matter of time before the equaliser came, but somehow Reading held out thanks to some determined defending, the post, and Exeter's inability to take advantage of a string of decent chances.
Exeter City 1 Reading 2