Jonathan Hayes saw his penalty saved by Steve Williams

In a busy week for the Blues second string five of the side that went to extra time and penalties against Beaconsfield SYCOB in the Berks& Bucks Cup less than 48 hours ago started at the Madejski Stadium.

Steve Williams was the hero on Monday night and was in the thick of the action again during an entertaining first half saving well from Conor Sinnott's free kick on 7 minutes after Stuart Cattell had felled Jonathan Hayes on the edge of the area.

However Wycombe had started brightly passing the ball around with confidence and both Gary Bunting and Charlie Griffin tested their long range striking abilities before Giambrone superbly opened the scoring on 16 minutes. Recieving the ball some 30 yards from goal the youngster found himself with enough time and space to get away a stunning strike which arrowed into the top corner of the net.

The grandly named Lord-Kangana N'Diwa then almost gifted Wanderers a second when under no pressure his headed clearance fell kindly for Griffin on the edge of the area but unfortunately the Blues striker couldn't keep his effort down.

In response the home side forced a string of corners and it was as a result of one of these that their best opportunity of the first half came. Simon Cox couldn't get a decisive near post touch to Hayes corner when well placed but as Wanderers struggled to convincingly clear Kangana N'Diwa delivered the ball to the feet of Shane Long who was upended by Cattell for a penalty.

But in a similar vain to Monday night Steve Williams dived full length to his left to superbly save Jonathan Hayes spot kick to maintain Wanderers lead.

HT: 0-1

Reading began the second half brightly with Michael Dobson forcing a good tip over from Williams within a minute of the restart.

Increasingly Wycombe were being pegged back as their hosts searched for an equaliser. Williams had to be alert to beat away Simon Church's crisp angled drive but the pressure was beginning to tell and so it was that Reading drew level on 58 minutes. Cox passed through for Sinnott who got in behind Wanderers high back line and calmly rounded Steve Williams before rolling the ball into an empty net.

A frustrated looking Josh Mulvany was booked on the hour shortly before attempting an audacious long range effort which only just cleared Young's crossbar, but it wasn't long before Wycombe fell behind.

This time it was a long cross field ball from Royals skipper Dobson which started the move that saw Hayes run in from the left touchline and evade challenges from Douglas and Cattell before finishing clinically past Williams into the far corner.

Wycombe looked to respond but in truth struggled to get off the back foot and were limited to two Bunting free kicks both as a result of clumsy challanges by Kangana N'Diwa on James Faulkner. The first presented a comfortable save for Jamie Young whilst the second, whilst better struck, just cleared the crossbar.

In fact it was the home side who came closest to adding to the scorline with Shane Long's lob over Steve Williams being cleared by Wesley Douglas, however a third goal would have been harsh on a very hardworking young Wycombe side.

FT: 2-1

Reading: Young, Bygrave (Church 54), Golbourne, Dobson, Pearce, Kangana N'Diwa, Crockford, Sinnott, Long, Cox, Hayes subs not used: Piotrowski, Marum, Stapleton, Rendell

Wycombe: Williams, Douglas, Bunting, Massey, Cattell, Mulvany (Ryan 72), Giambrone, Gregory (Rice 53), Tucknott, Faulkner, Griffin (Savage 69) subs not used: Thornton, Boateng

Referee: Mr G Ward

Pictures courtesy of Reading FC.