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The home side took the lead deservedly, before the leveller arrived seven minutes later, and the remainder of the game was played out with relative stalemate.
The freezing temperatures and having not played a competitive fixture for three weeks, inevitably meant a slow start to Saints’ protection of their nine-game unbeaten run.
The home side conceded the first couple of chances, before springing in to life themselves, and fashioning an opportunity for Kornelius Hansen who shot a yard wide from a tight angle.
But Saints were soon back to their enterprising selves, as Robise fired Craig Fleming’s youngsters in to the lead. Latching on to a Reading mistake, the forward pounced, used his pace to accelerate forward, and smashed the ball emphatically past Gabriel Rosario.
The advantage was only to last seven minutes, as full-back Wilson provided a quick Reading riposte. Receiving the ball on the half turn in the area, Wilson rather skewed his shot, but managed to squeeze it past an unsighted Adam Parkes.
And Parkes had to be alert after the restart, as Khalid Simmo had crept forward undetected, but the shot’s lack of pace was owing to the recovery run of Kayne Ramsey.
The conditions quickly worsened at Staplewood, as snow fell heavily and temperatures plummeted. The white ball was soon replaced by a yellow version.
Never hurried, and always finding pockets of space, Will Smallbone delivered a searching ball in to the area in the 70th minute, which was attacked well by Christoph Klarer. The header sailed wide of the target, but the home side continued to carve openings.
Carrying the impetus, Jonathan Afolabi had a few half chances, while his opposite number, Adam Little also went close for Reading.
Parkes made a superb low save from substitute Shamar Moore late on, but neither side could find a second-half breakthrough, and battling through the conditions, were forced to accept a share of the spoils.
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