Crewe 1 , Reading 0

STRONG second half pressure wasn't enough for Reading, as they lost out to a fifteenth minute strike at Gresty Road on Saturday.

The home side took command from the start, and within three minutes only a lack of control from Dean Ashton, who had beaten the offside trap, spared Royals as he should have done better when found alone in the box.

Steve Foster then volleyed wide, before Royals were denied an equaliser after Nicky Forster's 30-yard blast was harshly ruled out for an alleged foul by the striker.

Scott Murray then shaved the crossbar with a right foot rocket from 25 yards, before Crewe's attractive midfield play saw them take the lead after 15 minutes. A lovely through ball found Steve Jones in the inside left channel, forcing Marcus Hahnemann to the edge of the box to close him down.

However, the striker effortlessly went around the 'keeper's half-hearted challenge, and slotted home from an incredibly tight angle near the left hand by-line.

David Vaughan fired off-target after Ricky Newman miscontrolled, and Adie Williams was cautioned for felling Jones as the striker looked set to nip between him and Hahnemann as he chased a long ball.

After Ashton curled a free kick wide, Royals then made some more chances of their own.

Forster lashed a left foot shot into the side netting, then volleyed Newman's curled cross wide at the near post. And although Ashton headed a corner wide, Royals ended the half with another good chance after Forster's low 25-yard shot was well saved by Clayton Ince.

After the break, Forster, Hughes, and Forster again, all went close.

Even Graeme Murty, returning as a substitute, had a go which saw Ince save his 20-yard left foot shot low down at his left hand post.

Hahnemann escaped another wander from his area when Jones poked wide, but Royals were dominating the match in terms of possession.

Nicky Shorey fired the first of several shots off-target, while at the other end Ashton fired inches wide. Ince held Murray's deflected cross-shot, and after Hahnemann saved a volley from Jones at point blank range, the 'keeper thwarted Murray again.

Shaun Goater headed wide from a corner after Ivar Ingimarsson's goal-bound effort had been deflected, and then at the death both Jones and Steven Sidwell skied efforts high over the bar. But it wasn't enough for Reading as the home side held on to claim the points, and Royals slipped to 11th in Division 1.

Reading (4-5-1): Hahnemann, Newman (sub Murty 56), Williams, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Murray (sub Savage 88), Harper, Hughes, Sidwell, Salako (sub Goater 79), Forster. Subs (not used): Ashdown, Watson.