Wolves can count themselves a little unfortunate not to have taken a share of the spoils from their encounter with Reading at the Bucks Head, but a Danny Loader double saw the Berkshire side achieve a narrow victory.
In the opening exchanges a neat build up between Christian Herc and Andrew Sealey-Harris created an opening for Aaron Collins whose 20-yard drive flew straight at keeper George Legg.
Reading took the lead in the eighth minute following a Jordan Holsgrove corner. Loader ran in unchecked to the far post and he was afforded enough time to take a touch before netting from six-yards out.
Wolves were close to an equaliser in the 18th minute after Sherwin Seedorf had delivered a cross from the left.
Sealey-Harris made good contact as he swung a foot at the ball but his effort struck Gabriel Osho who was stationed just in front of the line. A minute later Osho was yellow carded after he had pulled at Sealey-Harris’s shirt just outside the Reading box.
Despite being surrounded by four defenders, Herc still managed to find enough room to unleash a shot but his effort lacked the power to trouble Legg.
Cameron John and Harry Burgoyne collided as the keeper tried to collect Tom Holmes’ centre. The ball dropped to Ben House but he failed to make a solid contact and the ball was cleared behind.
In the 40th minute Wolves went close twice in a matter of seconds. Anthony Breslin’s curling shot from 25-yards had Legg diving across his line to beat the ball away.
The Reading defence failed to clear its lines and Dan Armstrong wasn’t far away from taking full advantage with an angled chip that was just too high.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 Reading 1
Three times in the opening four minutes of the new half, Wolves were close to pulling level. Collins met an Armstrong cross and he diveted the ball no mote than a foot wide of the far post.
Armstrong then drew a full length save from Legg who did well in turning the winger’s 20-yard drive past the post.
Then Jose Xavier, an interval replacement for Sealey-Harris, took the ball to the by-line before laying it into the path of Collins who was even closer than his effort of a couple of minutes earlier although this was the other post.
A Reading break saw Burgoyne saving well from Josh Barrett before Wolves got the equaliser they deserved in the 56th minute as Collins finally got his reward squeezing Seedorf’s cross inside the far post.
Burgoyne was at his best after a mistake by Hakeem Odoffin had left House with a clear path to goal. The keeper ran from his line and bravely blocked before clearing.
Legg made a tremendous save from an equally good shot from Seedorf before Reading regained their advantage in the 69th minute as Loader ran through onto Barrett’s pass before sliding the ball past Burgoyne.
Seedorf found the side netting as he cut in and tried his luck from an acute angle shortly before he was booked for a shove on Holmes.
As Wolves piled forwards in search of an equaliser, Reading twice caught them on the break with Burgoyne coming to the rescue each time.
First he won a one on one contest with Loader, then he left his area and won tackles with Barrett and Holsgrove who was following up.
In stoppage time Herc was booked after a late challenge and he was followed in the book by Xavier and Barrett from the bout of pushing and shoving that ensued.
Wolves: Burgoyne, Rainey, Breslin, Goncalves (capt), Odoffin, John, Armstrong, Herc, Collins, Sealey-Harris (Xavier 45), Seedorf.
Unused subs: Csoka, Beasley, Watt, Heredia.
Bookings: Seedorf (77 – foul), Herc (90+3 – foul), Xavier (90+4 – ungentlemanly conduct).
Reading: Legg, Holmes, Osho (capt), Andresson, Richards (Medford-Smith 45) East, Sheppard (Howe 67), Holsgrove, House, Barrett, Loader (Rollinson 87).
Unused subs: Southwood, Frost.
Bookings: Osho (19 – foul), Barrett (90+4 – ungentlemanly conduct).
Referee: J. Hull.
Attendance: 142.
