City’s patient and disciplined approach nullified the Royals threats in the first half hour. A deep cross from goalscorer Sweeney was diverted towards goal by Wareham but it was easy for the home side’s keeper.
 
After half hour Reading were struggling to break down City’s block, the ball rebounded out to Charlie Savage who hit a low drive from 30-yards, but it was always going wide of the City goal.
 
Down the other end another free-flowing City move saw Cole find Niskanen out wide, he sent a low pass into McMillan on the edge of the box, and his effort was sliced wide of the Royals goal.
 
In the 40th minute Reece Cole’s eyes lit up after he found space inside the Reading half. He drove forward before unleashing a shot 25-yards from goal, but his effort was always rising.

Just as City looked to be heading into the lead the Royals hit back. In the second added minute Kamari Doyle crossed and an unmarked Will Keane volleyed home from inside the six-yard box to make it 1-1 at the break.
 
Second Half

The hosts started the second half quickly and City had to be alert as a ball was crossed towards Marriott, but Jack Fitzwater showed great awareness to thwart the danger.

The second half took a while to settle into any rhythm in testing conditions thanks to the heavy rainfall. Brierley setting his sights on goal from distance as he tried to place one in the corner, but it was high and wide.

Manager Gary Caldwell rolled the dice just before the hour mark, bringing Jack Aitchison and Timur Tutierov on for Cole and Cox to freshen up the Grecians attack.

A bright City attack again saw Niskanen find space down City’s right on the hour mark, he crossed towards Wareham and his shot was blocked by O’Connor for City’s first set piece of the second half – the resulting delivery was well defended by the Royals.

Jack McMillan, making his first start since returning from injury had to be replaced with a knock after 64 minutes, with Johnly Yfeko getting his first taste of action since early December.

The Grecians fell behind after 75 minutes. Lewis Wing sent in a testing free kick and O’Connor found himself in space inside the box to volley home leaving Whitworth with no chance.

The goal lead to a pair of changes for City as Magennis replaced Wareham and Ed Turns replaced skipper Pierce Sweeney.

The hosts had a chance to pull away as the ball fell kindly to sub Ehibhatiomhan after 82 minutes, his low strike from just outside the box was well stopped by Whitworth,

Moments later a mix-up at the back allowed Marriott to bear down on goal, his low effort from the angle just inside the box was pushed wide of goal by City’s No.1.

The fourth official added eleven minutes and it took City until the third to draw level as Luca Woodhouse scored his first goal for the club in some style. The ball dropped kindly on the edge of the box, and his powerful shot nearly broke the back of the net to spark wild scenes in the away end.

City were looking for a winner and the ball fell on the edge of the box to sub Aitchison, he shifted the ball to Tutierov who went down just inside the box, but the referee deemed it was dive and awarded a free-kick to the hosts.

Both sides held out firm to pick up a point each after an entertaining match where the Grecians will have been happy to have managed to rescue a point late on.

Up Next:

The Grecians are next in action this Saturday, hosting Rotherham United in a 3pm kick-off at St James Park in EFL Sky Bet League One. Click here for tickets.

Match Details:

Reading XI: Pereira (GK), Dorsett, Roberts, Marriott (Fraser 87’), Savage, Wing (C), Kyerewaa (Lane 67’) O’Connor, Nyambe, Keane Ehibhatiomhan 76’), Doyle (Yiadom 87’).

Subs not used: Stevens, Burns, Ritchie.

Yellow Cards: Dorsett 69’ O’Connor 78’, Roberts 79’, Nyambe 90+5′

Goals: Keane 45’, O’Connor 75’

Exeter City XI: Whitworth (GK), Niskanen, Sweeney (C) (Turns 76’), Fitzwater, Woodhouse, Oakes, McMIllan (Yfeko 64’), Brierley, Cole (Aitchison 58’), Wareham (Magennis 76’), Cox (Tutierov 58’).

Subs not used: Bycroft, Higgins.

Yellow Cards: Woodhouse 73’ Tutierov 90+9′

Goals: Sweeney 13’, Woodhouse 90+3′

Attendance: 8404 (548 City fans)