Northampton Town 0
Reading 1 (Bignall 87)

Reading edged past Northampton Town in the FA Youth Cup Third Round with a 1-0 victory at Sixfields Stadium.

The Royals left it late as Nicholas Bignall's 87th minute header was the only goal to separate the sides.

Both teams showed plenty of commitment and attacking endeavour in the first half. But as the temperate plummeted below zero degrees after the break, the game fizzled out.

Reading had the better of the second half, and went closest when Josh Webb hit the crossbar with a corner. But just as extra-time seemed to be beckoning, Bignall's close range finish won it.

Reading will now meet Manchester City in the Fourth Round after City beat Millwall 5-1.

Northampton Town: Walker, Jones, Avill, Haines, Marzetti, Dyer, Maude, Taylor, Oulton (c) (Emery 90), Goodall, Benjamin.
Subs: Judd, Suckling, Richards, Gernon.

Reading: McCarthy, Spence, J Kelly, Cox, Hateley (c), Bayley, Downes, Webb, Vasilev, Bryant (Bossman 55), Bignall.
Subs: Kitteridge, Mitchell, White, O Kelly.

First half
The game is to be played on a bitterly cold evening, with temperatures set to plunge well below zero degrees overnight. The pitch already looked quite firm underfoot before kick-off.

Royals to start with a 4-3-3 attacking formation. Eamonn Dolan hands a debut to Bulgarian newboy Radloslav Vasliev, who leads the line up front.

Just before kick-off, the Royals first team coaching staff of Kevin Dillon, Wally Downes, Nigel Gibbs, Sal Bibbo along with Director of Football Nick Hammond, take their seats in the stadium. Former England and Reading midfielder Neil Webb is also in attendance to watch the performance of his son, Josh.

Reading start well, and create a half chance in the first minute, Daniel Spence crossing for Nicholas Bignall, whose header on the stretch is an easy claim for Northampton keeper Paul Walker.

Northampton also look lively in the opening stages though, and Royals stopper Alex McCarthy is called into action on three minutes to save from Greg Taylor, but the effort would have been ruled out for offside anyway.

Northampton produce a good move to send Joe Benjamin down the left, he beats Spence before centring the ball into the box, Royals defender Patrick Cox steps in well to clear.

Bignall does well on 10 minutes, beating his marker on the left flank before delivering a low cross for Mitchell Bryant, who is closed down in the act of shooting six yards out.

A long ball down the left flank finds Bignall on 15 minutes, who races at goal but is denied by a great tackle from Cobblers' defender Jon Marzetti.

Another good cross from Bignall on 19 minutes, this time finds Vasilev, who produces a neat flick with his back to goal. The effort isn't far wide of Walker's left hand post.

Julian Kelly produces some great defending on 22 minutes to track back and snuff out a chance for Taylor, who had been put in on goal from a neat throughball.

Both sides showing plenty of endeavour in all areas of the pitch. A place in the FA Youth Cup Fourth Round clearly means a lot to all the players.

On the half hour mark Reading go close again. A great corner from Josh Webb is swung in just underneath the bar, Walker doing well to palm clear under pressure.

Benjamin is having an impressive game for Northampton down the left. He beats his man again before supplying another good cross on 36 minutes, this time Tom Hateley is in to clear the danger.

Webb supplies another accurate delivery from a left wing corner on 43 minutes, but Harrison Bayley can only head over the bar from a good position.

Second half
Royals keeper McCarthy called into action on 50 minutes as Cobblers' skipper Ross Oulton smashes a 25 yard right footer which keeps low, McCarthy doing well to dive to his left and turn behind for a corner.

Reading substitution on 55 minutes, Mitchell Bryant being replaced by Kelvin Bossman.

Not a great deal of attacking initiative during the first 15 minutes of the second half as both sides begin to labour in the freezing cold conditions.

Reading nearly score on 64 minutes. Vasilev beats his man and centres from the byline, Bignall meets the ball at the near post but his effort is deflected inches high and wide of the left hand post.

The visitors begin to dominate proceedings as the game wears on, Northampton are less of a threat and the Royals have most of the possession.

Jahson Downes finds himself in space just inside the Cobblers penalty area on 72 minutes, but his right footed curling effort lacks power and Walker makes the save.

Webb creates problems with another good right footed corner on 84 minutes, this time he hits the crossbar with his in-swinger, and the ball bounces over.

Northampton go close against the run of play on 86 minutes. Benjamin gets down the right channel and squares for his strike partner Shaun Goodall, whose near post shot is narrowly off-target.

Jahson Downes picks up the ball on edge of the box, turns onto his right foot and fires a great shot which the keeper turns behind for a corner on 87 minutes.

Goal! From the resulting corner, Webb supplies another good delivery from the left, Hateley meets it at the far post and heads back across goal. Walker is unable to do more than parry from under his crossbar and Bignall heads it home from less than a yard out.

Northampton winger Taylor sends a rising drive from a free-kick which clears McCarthy's crossbar.

Northampton substitution on 90 minutes, Wess Emery coming on for Oulton.