Entertainment in the Black Country sun

Reading travelled to Molineux to play their last warm up game amid sweltering sunshine. The old gold stands of Molineux reflected in the hot August sunshine, as the British summer finally made a tangible appearance. Both sets of players would not have relished playing in the heat. Reading, with one eye looking towards next week’s big kick off at Old Trafford, knew the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers would be a fair test.

Wolves, a side placed among the promotion favourites, proved to be good opposition for Reading. Marcus Hahnemann proved his class in the first half making a string of fine saves. A double save early in the first half set the pattern of play for Reading’s number one. Stephen Ward’s cross from the right hand side was pushed away by Hahnemann, only to fall to Stephen Elliott, who could only hit the ball straight at the Reading goalkeeper.

Wolves looked lively and grabbed the lead in the 14th minute. A slick Wolves attack led to a Gary Breen cross being headed past Hahnemann by Sefi Olofinjana to put the home side one up. Reading though were not perplexed by going a goal down. A cross of wires in the middle of the Wolves defence let Stephen Hunt pounce on an open goal and equalise just three minutes after Wolves’ goal.

Wolves almost got themselves back in front soon after and would have done but for a magnificent double save from Marcus Hahnemann. Stephen Elliott’s shot was saved well by Hahnemann, but the ball ricocheted to Michael Kightly whose long-range chipped effort was tipped around the post by a suddenly airborne Hahnemann. The Reading goalkeeper was at it again moments later saving from an Elliott header. The resultant loose ball that followed was scrambled clear by Ivar Ingimarrsson.

Reading grabbed the lead in the 32nd minute when Brynar Gunnarsson blasted into the net following a neat pass from James Harper. Dave Kitson rattled the cross bar soon after and Wolves nearly equalised through Neill Collins and Olofinjana, but once more the resilient Hahnemann came to the rescue with point blank saves.

Reading increased their lead shortly before half time when a Stephen Hunt shot struck the Wolves keeper and deflected to Dave Kitson who made it 3-1 with the rebound. Reading could have had a fourth after half time, but Wayne Hennessey in the Wolves goal saved Kevin Doyle’s shot. Shane Long may have added to Reading’s lead as well, but a decent tackle by Darren Ward stopped the Irish international in his tracks.

As the game entered the final stages, the heat of the match was beginning to slow down the pace of the game. However, both sides produced late efforts to close off an entertaining game. Simon Cox crashed a long range shot against the cross bar a quarter of an hour from the end for Reading. Wolves also had their chances, but Freddy Eastwood’s low shot, was easily gathered by Reading’s substitute goalkeeper, Adam Federici. Federici was in action soon after saving from Kightly at the expense of a corner and also dealt with Rob Edwards’ shot that followed. Jay Boothroyd did get a second goal for Wolves six minutes from time with a low shot that beat Federici, to make the final score 3-2 to Reading.

By Stuart Croucher.