The Royals reserves were practically crowned FA Premier Reserve League South champions tonight after securing a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Barnet's Underhill Stadium.

We have now taken top spot on goal difference from Watford, who have played all their games, and only a 21-goal defeat at West Ham in our final game next week would prevent us from winning the league!

Arsenal helped the visitors on their way with an early own goal; Joe O'Cearuill nodding James Henry's cross into his own net.

Reading were bossing the game and should have gone in at half time with a more comprehensive lead.

Soon after the break, Julian Kelly struck the woodwork whilst searching for a second.

The two-goal cushion soon came courtesy of substitute Viktor Illugason, the Icelander touching past Vito Mannone having followed up Alan Bennett's blocked shot.

But the Gunners fought hard and found some fluency after that goal and were rewarded when Jay Simpson rifled high into the top right corner from 14 yards.

And just when it seemed the Royals would hold on to a deserved win, second half substitute Jay Thomas was given too much time and punished Reading with a stunning low drive that nestled inside Adam Federici's far post.

Our boys are now to set to face Northern League winner Bolton Wanderers in a play-off at Madejski Stadium for the national title.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Mannone; Ogogo (Rodgers 60), Steer (Eastmond 81), O'Cearuill (c), Connolly, G Hoyte, Randall, Dunne, Van Den Berg (Thomas 55), Effrem, Simpson
Subs: Szczesny, Fonte

Reading (4-4-2): Federici; Spence, Kelly, Halls (c), Bennett, Bikey, Halford, Henry, Bignall (Hateley 63), Church (Illugason HT), Long.
Subs: McCarthy, P Cox, Webb

Referee: Andy Halliday

Attendance: 446




Full report
The two teams observed a minute's silence before kick off in memory of ex-England World Cup winner and Arsenal star Alan Ball, and then the game kicked off with Reading shooting down the Underhill slope.

The early stages began at a frantic pace but little was created in front of either goal; the Royals' main threat stemming from long Greg Halford throws from the left headed wide and over by the towering frame of Andre Bikey.

But the Royals were having the larger slice of possession and they made it count when taking the lead in the 12th minute. Shane Long combined with James Henry down the right and given a little space to run into he whipped a great cross into the box.

Arsenal skipper Joe O'Cearuill didn't get a shout from his keeper that there was little danger behind him and his diving 10-yard header powered past Vito Mannone in the Gunners goal for a calamitous own goal opener.

It could have been a second soon after. Nicholas Bignall's right-sided corner was well flicked on by Shane Long at the near post. It fell to ex-Gunner John Halls at the far post but it didn't sit down for the centre back to direct a shot on target and the ball was scrambled clear.

18 minutes gone and the lead should have been doubled. Bignall was causing untold havoc down the right, having switched wings with Henry, and the pacy youngster swept a cross into the box where Long lurked. The ball arrived slightly behind him and as a result the Irish striker could only scoop the ball over the crossbar from yards out.

The Royals were sharper to every ball and Arsenal's first shot at goal came three minutes short of the half hour mark - a speculative effort from outside the area that spun harmlessly wide of Adam Federici's top left corner.

Reading in truth looked more likely to add to their lead. Greg Halford's corner from the right was met strongly by Bikey, who rose above his marker to head goalwards from 10 yards out. Mannone had to produce a fingertip save to edge it over his bar and concede another corner.

Bignall took this one and again Bikey got the better of his marker. Nodding down it fell to Long, who arranged his feet quickly to hammer a shot in at the near post. It was desperately blocked by the Gunners' right back and tentative claims for handball were waved away.

With five minutes of the half left, Long had a fantastic chance to add his name to the scoresheet. Henry delivered a delightful ball over the top of the Gunners' back line and Long raced onto it and controlled well. He was one-on-one with the keeper but got caught in two minds as to whether to touch it wide of Mannone or try to take it round him. In the end he only managed to chip it weakly into the keeper's arms and the chance went begging.

Before the half was out, Simon Church weaved between a number of players to earn a free kick 25 yards out. Henry lined it up but it spiralled up off the Gunners wall and Mannone gathered on the bounce at the second attempt.

And with the last kick of the half Long stroked a far post effort high over the bar from close range, after latching onto a Halford stab inside the box that was dribbling wide.

Second Half
With less than a minute of the second half gone, the Royals struck the woodwork. Arsenal could only half clear from right back and Julian Kelly struck an ambitious effort that looped high towards the Gunners goal. Spinning and dipping Mannone could only watch as the ball bounced high off the right upright and out.

That spurred the home side into action, Mark Randall dragging a good chance well wide of the left post and Giorgios Effrem seeing a low strike blocked just inside the box.

But they were only half chances and Reading doubled the lead on the hour. Good work from the right saw the ball squared to Alan Bennett who had stayed up from a free kick. He had time to measure a 10-yard shot but despite keeping it down well his effort was blocked. Second half substitute Viktor Illugason was there though to turn it home from close range and the Royals were 2-0 up.

Seconds after the restart Daniel Spence tracked back at pace to deny Randall an effort on goal, Federici coming off his line to collect after the right back had stepped in at the crucial moment.

But Arsenal pulled one back with 22 minutes remaining. A neat ball was fed into Jay Simpson from the left and the pacy Gunners striker controlled, pivoted quickly and smashed an inch-perfect drive into the top right corner offering Federici no hope of saving.

Having played a reserve game only two days earlier, the neutral might have expected Arsenal legs to tire but as the half wore on the home side pushed for an equaliser.

And with seven minutes remaining, substitute Jay Thomas stole in behind Spence to chest down well but squander a great chance by scuffing his strike wide of Federici's near post.

A better chance fell to Randall two minutes from time. Good work down the right from Effrem saw the winger cross into the box. Royals defenders were out of place and it was chested into Randall's path. The midfielder swung a right leg at the ball but poked it wide of the left post from 10 yards out.

Three minutes of injury time were signalled and in the third a cruel blow left Royals boss Brian McDermott with a sour taste on a night he should have been celebrating a win with a league championship title.

Jay Thomas was allowed too much time on the edge of the Royals box and without an option to pass, he chose to fire a stunning low drive in off the base of Adam Federici's woodwork to make it 2-2 with the penaultimate kick of the game.

The final kick saw the Gunners kick off from the centre circle and prompted the final whistle. A disappointing end but a point enough to secure a playoff final against Bolton, the winners of the Northern reserve league next month.