Reading beat Fleetwood Town 2-0 and moved on to the second round of the FA Cup in front of a record lowest within the SCL of just 3,685.
The game started under gloomy skies, with both teams trying to control possession but struggling to create clear chances. Reading had some good shots in the first half, with Charlie Savage and Tiv Rushesha testing Fleetwood’s keeper, David Harrington. Harrington was pretty solid, blocking most shots that came his way. Fleetwood had a few chances too, but Reading’s defense held them off, and the first half ended 0-0.
Right after halftime, Reading finally broke the deadlock. Tyler Bindon tapped in a goal from a Charlie Savage free-kick, giving Reading the lead just a couple of minutes into the second half. Fleetwood tried to respond quickly, but Reading’s goalie, David Button, was there to stop their attempts.
Both teams kept pushing, with chances going back and forth. Button made some great saves, keeping Reading ahead. Reading then made some substitutions, bringing fresh energy to the field, and Fleetwood’s keeper Harrington continued to block some serious shots from Reading, keeping the game alive.
In the final few minutes, Reading sealed the win with a little luck—an own goal from Finlay Potter off a Wareham shot made it 2-0. Fleetwood tried one last wild shot from halfway across the field, but it missed. Reading celebrated their ticket to the next round as the ref blew the whistle.
Reading: Button, Elliott, Savage, Rushesha, Wareham, Campbell (Tuma 85′), Bindon © (Mbengue 63′), Camara (Akande 63′), Holzman, Ahmed (Craig 78′), Spencer (Knibbs 78′)
Subs: Boyce-Clarke, Garcia, Sackey, St. Louis
Goals: Bindon (48′), Potter (OG) (86′)
Yellow: Rushesha (6′)
Fleetwood Town: Harrington, Johnston (Broom 75′), Patterson, Mayor, Bonds, Virtue © (Harratt 75′), Coughlan (Odubeko 75′), Potter, Hughes, Helm (Lonergan 75′), Graydon (Shaw 75′)
Subs: Lynch, Devonport
