Arsenal 0
Reading 1 (Lita 53)

Leroy Lita's second half strike earned the Royals a slender victory at Arsenal this evening.

Lita's well-placed strike just before the hour was enough for all three points, although there were chances for more goals at both ends in a fast-paced encounter at Underhill.

In a goalless first half the best chance fell to Reading, but twice in the same sixth minute move Brian McDermott's men were denied by the crossbar.

Shane Long glanced the fit-again Bobby Convey's cross onto the woodwork with a good near post header before James Henry followed suit with the follow-up.

Lita emerged the hungriest after the interval, and collecting the ball from Pearce he beat his man and drilled a low drive across Gunners keeper Vito Mannone to break the deadlock in the 53rd minute.

He could, and possibly should have added to his tally, but a close range header was well held by Mannone and a bustling run onto a direct ball ended with the striker firing over the crossbar.

Henry came close himself, while Adam Federici was only called upon to make one real save although Arsenal pressed hard for an equaliser in last half hour.

Convey completed the full ninety minutes and looked comfortable, providing some good flicks and making some clever runs in a sound return from injury.

A full report from the game is below, and video highlights will follow on readingfc.co.uk later this week.

Arsenal: Mannone, G Hoyte, Rodgers (Blackwood 75), Ogogo, Gibbs (Ayling 48), Dunne (Eastmond HT), Barazite, Emmanuel-Thomas, Watt, Lansbury, Fonte.
Subs not used: Szczesny.

Reading: Federici, Halls, Golbourne,Sonko, Pearce (c), Bikey, Bozanic, Henry, Convey, Long, Lita.
Subs not used: Hamer, Kelly, Bygrave, Sigurdsson, Robson-Kanu.
Yellow cards: Bikey

First half

The hosts started proceedings kicking up the famed slope at Underhill on a chilly evening in Barnet - and the first shot at goal came from Arsenal; Henri Lansbury dragging wide of Adam Federici's far post.

But with six minutes gone, the Gunners keeper Vito Mannone had his woodwork to thank...twice. Bobby Convey swung in a cross from the left corner flag and Shane Long rose at the near post to glance a header against the crossbar. 

It ricocheted out and Henry was first to the loose ball but his effort cannoned against the same piece of woodwork. It dropped to Lita but he was pressured out of possession and two fantastic chances to open the scoring had gone begging,

Lansbury's pace caused problems two minutes later, and Federici had to be alert to race out of his box and make a challenge before the Gunners midfielder could strike into an open net.

The pace was fast and the attacking intent from both sides was there for a good crowd to admire.#

The Royals were getting plenty of joy down each wing and both combined to earn the visitors a corner after a quarter of an hour. James Henry jinked between two men to brilliantly cross to Convey, who brought it down and shot only to see it charged down and bobble wide.

And the Premier Reserve League title-holders were bossing the game when Lita flicked on to Long, only for the Irish star to be denied a shot by a very well-timed last ditch tackle inside the box.

Quicker to the ball all over the field, John Halls won it well and slid in Lita - but the striker couldn't direct a powerful strike on target.

But against the run of play, Arsenal spurned a glorious chance.  Left back Jay Emmannual-Thomas strode towards the edge of the box and cut it across to Nacer Barazite arriving late to his right. With time to pick his spot he skied it over the crossbar to the groans of the home support.

Just before the half hour mark, Alex Pearce glanced a left-sided corner half clear but Paul Rodgers dragged the dropping ball wide at the far post.

Long then fired well wide soon after before Federici had to sprawl full stretch to his left to make sure Barazite's 18-yard drive dribbled wide of his upright and behind for a goal kick. Arsenal were undeniably getting a foothold though.

Five minutes before the break, Mannone had to punch clear Convey's cross with Lita lurking umarked in the box, but the Gunners keeper could only watch as Long's stabbed effort flashed across his goalmouth and inches wide minutes later,

Second half

The first move in the second half saw Reading win a free kick 20 yards out. James Henry arced a good set piece over the Arsenal wall and it fizzed just wide of Arsenal's left upright with Manone scrambling.

And given a yard for the first time in the game, Leroy Lita broke the deadlock eight minutes after the interval. Alex Pearce stepped in to win the ball at the back, collected a one two from Convey who rode a challenge to refind the skipper. 

Pearce slid in Lita to his right and the striker was given the chance to control and face toward goal. Taking a touch or two, Lita took it a yard away from Rodgers before firing across Mannone with a brilliant low drive.

Three minutes later Herschel Watt had a chance to level. Lansbury passed it one more to his left and Watt had a little time to find his target. He couldn't though, scuffing wide of the left post from 15 yards out.

Lita was hungry for more though, bundling through to hammer over, firing a powerful free kick against the Gunners wall and then chesting down Long's flick all alone at the far post only to see his shot saved and a dubious offside flag award Arsenal a free kick.

With 20 minutes left, Lita was strong to sheiled the ball on the right and produce a deft touch into the sprinting path of Henry. The right winger fired early from a difficult angle and Mannone did well to parry.

Soon after Lita was involved again. Henry turned provider, digging out a great cross into the box, and Lita rose above his marker to head cleanly at goal from yards out. It was straight at Mannone though, whose handling was sound. It should have been two though.

Full of confidence, Lita continued to impress, but he was unable to connect with an overhead kick from Oliver Bozanic's left wing cross. 

Not before the 78th minute was Federici called into a save. Lansbury slide into Emmannual-Thomas on a barnstomring run from the left-back position. He drilled it in from a tight angle and Federici pushed it away, before Golbourne charged down Rui Fonte's follow up.

Another chance fell Arsenal's way in the 82nd minute as the Gunners pushed for a leveller, Watt cut inside Sonko on a mazy dribble but could only poke it harmlessly wide of Federici's post as he ran out of gas at the last.

Two minutes later, Mannone was the keeper forced into a goalline scrambled clearance as he somehow kept out a Bozanic effort from yards out.

Lita should have had his brace three minutes from time, but his contact on Bozanic's deep free kick was too slight and his header breezed past the far post with Mannone untroubled.

The second goal never came but wasn't needed in the end as Reading held out to claim a good win at Underhill in a thoroughly entertaining encounter.