Reading FC 3-2 Wycombe Wanderers: FLW reports as Marriott hat-trick spoils Chairboys comeback | OneFootball

Valentine's Day action from The Select Car Leasing Stadium as local neighbours Reading and Wycombe Wanderers renewed acquaintances.

Reading took the lead inside 10 minutes when Jack Marriott was the first to a loose ball in the box, lifting it over Will Norris to give the Berkshire side an early lead against their Buckinghamshire neighbours.

Despite the rest of the first half being one-way traffic, Marriott was on hand to double Reading's lead on the stroke of half-time, as he capitalized on a Dan Harvie error and blasted past Will Norris.

Wycombe needed a strong start to the second half if they wanted to salvage something from the game, and they got just that when Dan Casey headed home from close range.

Anders Hagelskjaer levelled the contest with a great individual strike, before Marriott sealed the three points for the Royals with his hat-trick just two minutes after the Dane brought the game level.

Reading 3-2 Wycombe Wanderers

After a fairly even start, Reading took an early lead via their talisman Marriott. A calamitous goal for Wycombe to gift their opponents, as the striker caught the Chairboys defence napping, lifting a loose ball over Norris.

Wanderers pushed to get back on terms with Junior Quitirna causing issues down the right flank. A superb diagonal pass from Anders Hagelskjaer set the winger away, but he curled his effort just wide of the far post.

On the half-hour mark, Wycombe had a great opportunity to level the contest. A deflected cross from Luke Harris deceived Joel Peieria and travelled to the back post, where Andy Yiadom was on hand to deny Fred Onyedinma a tap in.

Quitirna then produced what was one of the worst misses of the season. An excellent driving run from Harris saw his shot parried into the path of the wide man with the net at his mercy, but he somehow smashed it over the bar.

The visitors would rue that miss, as Marriott was at the double. The goal came from a throw in Reading's half, as Harvie miscontrolled a clearance and allowed the striker one-on-one with Norris, who he slotted past to double his tally and his side's lead.

Wycombe were clearly frustrated, and ended the half with a Niall Huggins effort from close range being parried to safety by Pereira, but it was the hosts who would go in at the break two goals to the good, thanks to two individual errors from their opponents.

An early goal was needed for Michael Duff's side in the second half, and they got it after a deep Aaron Morley free-kick was directed into the path of Casey by Cauley Woodrow, sparking the contest back into life again.

Reading defended bravely from wave after wave of Wycombe attack, with bodies on the line to try and preserve their one-goal advantage, but you could feel the equaliser was coming.

With 20 minutes left to play, it did. Hagelskjaer found himself in an unorthodox position on the left-wing, but instead of looking for a pass, he drove into space and fired in his first goal in English football.

However, Wycombe were once again the architects of their own downfall, as straight from kick-off, they failed to deal with a long ball forward, which Marriott latched onto and stroked home for his hat-trick.

That would prove to be the decisive moment in the match, as Reading held off a late Wycombe surge to secure a massive three points for their season, and earn local bragging rights over their neighbours.

Reading FC player ratings

J. Pereira - 7

A. Yiadom - 6

P. O'Connor - 7

B. Ward - 7 (F. Burns 96'(5))

J. Dorsett - 6 (R. Nyambe 87'(5))

L. Wing - 6

L. Fraser - 6

K. Young - 5 (C. Savage 74'(6))

K. Doyle - 5

P. Lane - 5 (H. Roberts 74'(5))

J. Marriott - 9 (K. Ehibhatiomhan 87'(5))

Unused substitutes: J. Stevens, M. Ritchie

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Wycombe Wanderers player ratings

W. Norris - 3

D. Harvie - 3

A. Hagelskjaer - 6

D. Casey - 7

N. Huggins - 5 (J. Grimmer 88'(5))

L. Leahy - 4 (E. Henderson 46'(6))

A. Morley - 6 (J. Mullins 78'(5))

J. Quitirna - 5

L. Harris - 6 (A. Vidigal 78'(4))

F. Onyedinma - 5

C. Woodrow - 6 (B. Fink 88'(5))

Unused substitutes: M. van Sas, T. Allen

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Leam Richardson hails Reading's character after Wycombe victory

Speaking to PA Media post-match, Reading head coach Leam Richardson said: “It was a fantastic result. We started the game well, and maybe we could have managed the game better in the second half.

“But the work ethic and how we stayed connected was excellent.

“Jack has been like that [scoring goals] since he first put on a pair of boots – and he still is.

“At the top end of the pitch, that’s what the players there get paid to do.

“All three goals were different goals, but they were Jack Marriott goals. Once he gets a chance and a sight of goal, he’s always on the spot.

“Overall, it was a good game. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot a little bit [conceding two goals] but the way we responded showed great character.

“As a football club, we’re definitely moving forward. It’s great to back up an away win [2-1 at Wigan on Tuesday].

“For those fans who went all the way to Wigan, we dedicate today’s win to them.”

Speaking to PA Media after the match, Wycombe head coach Duff said: “With their first goal, it was us who had a three-on-one. For the second, it was just a disaster.

“And the third one was even worse because we had just got back into the game. We’d just got back in it, and I was pretty convinced we could have gone on to win.

“The whole momentum of the game was with us, it was us attacking them.

“Tactically, we got everything wrong. It’s just not good enough. You have to find a way.

“Some of the players think they must be playing for little old Wycombe or something like that. Big players step up in big moments.

“That’s what the best players do. In possession, we were really good, but we can’t really talk about that because of the individual errors.

“In that first 15 minutes, if you take away that really horrible goal, it was a really positive start. We dominated that 15 minutes.

“Of course, overall, there are still lots of positives. But we lost and the overriding emotion is just frustration again.”