Reading 1 Shrewsbury 1: Salop make it three unbeaten in Berkshire

Fresh off the back of two consecutive third-tier wins - for the first time in two years - Salop took a valuable point back to Shropshire after securing a 1-1 draw with Noel Hunt's Royals. 

Shrewsbury gave a good account of themselves in Berkshire but missed a penalty early on through John Marquis. 

They went behind when Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark but hit back in the second period when Taylor Perry scored for the second consecutive match. 

REPORT

Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to the side that won 2-1 at Rotherham on Saturday. 

George Nurse and Harrison Biggins came in for Alex Gilliead and Aaron Pierre - the latter was ruled out with injury. 

Shrewsbury enjoyed a bright opening to the match in Berkshire. Nurse's long throw caused Reading some considerable trouble. Taylor Perry saw a shot blocked by his own man while Dominic Gape volleyed over. 

Ainsworth's side had a golden chance to take the lead when Biggins was fouled by Chem Campbell in the box, and referee Abigail Byrne pointed to the spot. 

John Marquis, who had scored four goals in his last five appearances for Salop, stepped up to take the penalty, but his rotten form from the spot continued as it was saved by Joel Pereira. 

That was his third consecutive miss from the spot, and he could not scramble in the rebound either. 

Shrews continued to look for an opener, and Perry had another effort when his left-footed shot was saved by Pereira. 

Salop were made to pay for not punishing their opponents while they were in the ascendency as Reading took the lead just before the half-hour mark. 

Luca Hoole was beaten too easily by Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who pulled the ball back to Jayden Wareham and the youngster finished from eight yards out. 

That goal did settle the hosts, but Town still offered a threat - it was a really promising first-half display, but they had work to do at the interval.

And within 10 minutes of the re-start, Shrewsbury were level when Perry scored for the second consecutive match. Mal Benning nodded the ball forward, and the midfielder latched onto it and fired across Pereira into the corner. 

Jamal Blackman was called into action soon after to deny Campbell down to his right. Wareham tried to get the rebound in, but it was cleared away. 

Gilliead and Toto Nsiala were introduced midway through the second period with the game in the balance, and the Town skipper fired a shot from outside the box narrowly over the bar. 

Vadiane Oliver came on as a substitute and he had a chance to give Town the lead for the first time in the game but he headed Benning's free-kick over the bar and the game finished all square in Berkshire. 

 Reading: Pereira, Craig, Knibbs, Savage, Ehibhatiomhan (Kanu 86), Wareham (Bodin 64), Campbell (Camara 64), Bindon, Mbengue, Wing, Garcia (Abrefa 64).

Subs not used: Button, Rushesha, Holzman.

Shrewsbury: Blackman, M. Feeney, J. Feeney, Nurse (Nsiala 66) , Hoole, Gape, Biggins (Gilliead 66), Perry (Shipley 73), Benning, Marquis (Stewart 83), Lloyd (Oliver 45).

Subs not used: Savin, Dinanga.