FT: Stevenage 0-1 Reading

On a relentlessly rainy evening in front of 3,947 hardy souls including 886 travellers from Berkshire, Reading eased out of the League One relation places with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Boro.

Despite Steve Evans' side dominating the visitors, an own goal by Vadine Oliver moments before half time was enough to separate the teams.

Boro started well on a greasy surface, when Jake Forster-Caskey tested Royals keeper David Button from outside the area, but the shot was gathered safely on seven minutes.

As if to underline the difficult the wet conditions the Boro No8 fired high and wide moments later.

The busy Forster-Caskey - relishing his place in the starting line-up after Saturday's 85th minute winner as a substitute sealed all three points for Boro against Blackpool on an emotional afternoon - played the ball into a crowded box, but the ball could only spin off No6 Dan Sweeney''s head and away when the big defender was well-placed.

Terrence Vancoten blasted the ball over Button's bar as Stevenage emphasised their dominance in the opening half hour.

Undeterred, Reading swept upfield in the very next move, prior to Femi Azeez unleashing a powerful low drive that flew narrowly past Craig MacGillivray's near post.

As the game opened with both sides full of attacking intent despite - or possibly because of the wet conditions - with ten minutes still to play before the interval, Jamie Reid had a shot deflected for a corner.

From the resulting dead ball, Boro's No19 received possession with his back to goal, before promptly spinning to fire a shot that went wide in a neat move that perhaps deserved more.

On 38 minutes Reading No2's Clinton Mola was booked by referee Paul Howard for a foul on Jordan Roberts. After a spell of pressure including three corners in quick succession Boro's dominance failed to trouble the scoresheet. Even if you could argue that their penalty claims for handball from the Royals' No2 had some merit.

The visitors swept upfield only for MacGillivray to show bravery to dive at the feet of No15 Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan to block, prior to Azeez firing over the ball from outside the box.

However, the home side failed to heed the warning, and moments before the half time whistle, Reading broke the deadlock with a goal credited to Boro No33 Oliver. The ball squeezing through a crowded box and beyond the despairing dive of MacGillivray to make it 1-0 - prompting unbridled joy in the away end.

As the rain continued to lash down after the interval, Stevenage contrived to spurn a number of half chances, while also repelling Reading. Sweeney somehow sliding heroically to block what looked like a certain goal from Royals No10 Sam Smith after the striker rounded Boro's onrushing keeper MacGillivray.

As the clock ticked down on a disappointing result for Stevenage, a look at the League One table did not have to cause alarm, with Boro resolutely remaining in the sixth, the final play-off spot - while Reading leapfrogged fellow strugglers Port Vale, sending the Valiants into the relegation zone after losing 1-0 at Burslem to Leyton Orient.