Portsmouth 1 (Sigurdsson 1)
Reading 1 (Nugent 50)

Reading's slim chances of retaining their Premier Reserve League title were dashed as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Pompey.

The Royals were rarely in danger during the first half of the game at Havant and Waterlooville. They took just 40 seconds to establish a lead with a close range finish from Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Reading went onto create a number of other chances in the first half, James Henry looking especially lively, but failed to find the net.

And they were made to pay as Pompey levelled the scores on 50 minutes with an excellent angled finish from David Nugent.

The Royals needed to win to give themselves a chance of overhauling league leaders Aston Villa, who need to at least a draw from their final game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur to finish in second ahead of West Ham United.

Portsmouth (4-5-1): Begovic; Cranie, Aubey, Price (Ward 45), Wilson (c); Christophe, Hughes, Mvuemba, Mutombo (Hassani 75), Walker (Ritchie 53); Nugent.
Subs: Smith, Blackman.

Reading (4-4-2): Federici; Kelly, Spence, Bygrave, De La Cruz (c); Bayley, Sigurdsson, Little, Frewen (Bignall 83); Henry, Long.
Subs: Locke, Downes, Bryant, S Cox

Ref: I Cooper

Attendance: 146

First half
A warm sunny evening in Havant saw a few familiar faces in the crowd. Ex-Nottingham Forest manager Paul Hart, now Director of Youth Operations at Pompey, was watching, as was England youth team coach Steve Wigley. Royals boss Steve Coppell was also in attendance as was Pompey manager Harry Redknapp.

Pompey had a couple of big names in their line-up, with England international striker David Nugent alongside midfielder Richard Hughes. And the Royals had Glen Little making another reserve run-out at right midfield, and James Henry again employed as a striker alongside Shane Long.

Reading were ahead within just 40 seconds. A ball into the box saw Henry have a crack at goal, keeper Asmir Begovic saved the effort, but the ball broke for Gylfi Sigurdsson to knock home the rebound.

The visitors continued their bright start, and nearly went 2-0 up on three minutes when Julian Kelly's cross from the right found Shane Long, who was close to knocking home but Pompey's Gerraint Price got a foot in at the vital moment.

Reading had another effort on eight minutes when Gary Frewen produced a cross from the right, the ball dropped for Sigurdsson who was closed down in the act of shooting before knocking his follow-up effort high and wide.

The visitors were well on top, and it looked just a matter of time before the early lead would be doubled. A great low cross from Little on 10 minutes for Henry, whose glancing shot was saved by Begovic.

Frewen curled a free-kick at goal on 17 minutes, forcing another good save from Begovic before a scrambled clearance with Long and Henry lurking from close range.

On 18 minutes Long went close, cutting in from the left and finding space in the box to get away a powerful right footed low shot which flew just wide.
Little showed some great skill on 19 minutes to twist and turn his way to the edge of the box before sliding in a nice pass to Henry, whose quick snap-shot was palmed away by keeper.

On 28 minutes Henry went close to making it 2-0. He turned his man midway in the Portsmouth half and beat another two players before blasting a right footer which Begovic does well to get down to his right to palm away.

Portsmouth had a good chance against the run of play on 31 minutes when Nugent beat Ulises De La Cruz to a ball through the middle and tried to lob outrushing keeper Adam Federici, but saw the ball drop wide of the target.

And on 42 minutes Nugent was through again after a good through-ball from Arnold Mvuemba, but Federici comes out well and makes a very good save at the former Preston man's feet.

Second half
Portsmouth levelled the scores on 50 minutes. Jean-Francois Christophe played a good ball in for Nugent who held off his marker and found the bottom left corner of Federici's goal with an excellent angled finish from 12 yards.

The next 10 minutes saw plenty of endeavour from both sides without any real clear cut chances. Little went close for Reading on the hour mark when he headed Frewen's cross wide from eight yards out.

Pompey had a good effort on 74 minutes when substitute Matt Ritchie drove a left footed shot from 15 yards which Federici needed to get down well to stop.

And one minute later Andre Mutombo dragged a shot high and wide from the edge of the box.

The second half was much more of an even contest than the one-way traffic from reading during the first. And Pompey should have taken the lead on 76 minutes when Nugent again spurned a one-on-one chance, curling a low shot wide after Arnold Mvuemba had played him in.

Sigurdsson went close in the 85th minute but his angled shot from close range was headed behind for a corner by Pompey skipper Marc Wilson.

Look for Reading World video highlights later this week.