A RECORD league crowd of 9250 saw Wycombe defeated against top of the league local rivals 2-0 at Adams Park on Tuesday night.

After last Tuesday's loss against Blackpool at home, a much better performance was needed from the Blues but the writing was on the wall as early as the 6th minute. Reading's Nicky Forster used his pace to get past David Tuthill and was one on one with Martin Taylor, but a brave dive at the striker's feet kept the score at 0-0.

But Wycombe actually started quite brightly. I thought Tuthill, making his home debut, lacked some match fitness but Danny Senda, Mark Rogers and Chris Vinnicombe all defended very well.

We had a spell which brought six consecutive corners in a row but when the goal did come for Wycombe, it was disallowed for offside. A miss-hit shot found it's way to Sean Devine who buried it past Phil Whitehead, but the flag was up and 2,273 travelling fans were relieved.

Just before that Dannie Bullman had a freekick which he blasted at the wall. Reading's John's Mackie was yellow carded for kicking the ball away but the 10 yards conceded didn't provide any favours for Wycombe.

On 35 minutes a freekick was awarded to Wycombe, much further out, after Sammy Igoe fouled Steve Brown. Igoe was given the second yellow card of the evening and Vinnicombe took the freekick. With the strong wind behind it headed powerfully towards the goal. Only the slightest of touches was needed but in the end it travelled safely into the keeper's arms.

With much of the play in the Reading half without the all important goal to break the deadlock, the frustration was beginning to tell on the home side. On 41 minutes Jermaine McSporran conceded a freekick but was then given a yellow card for dissent.

Reading's recent run of good form has come since the signing of John Salako. This may be just a coincidence because he had a quiet game on Tuesday and Senda must take a lot of praise for this. His marking out wide was very business like for a player so young.

Early in the second half there were half chances at both ends for Devine, Forster and Jamie Cureton but neither keeper was asked to make a save. It was not until the hour mark that the game really came to life. Rogers was called upon to head off the line after Taylor only half saved a shot. Two minutes later, Igoe shot at Taylor who dropped the ball almost over the line but he recovered it in the nick of time.

Reading were now in total control and showed slick passing which created a number of good chances. Taylor was called upon to make a spectacular save from Cureton. A second shot moments later hit the side netting.

Stuart Roberts was brought on for Steve Brown and this nearly paid dividends. With a number of Wycombe players inside the Reading box Bullman had the ball 25 yards out. Darren Currie was best placed on the left but Bulman was dispossessed before he could find another blue shirt.

Reading broke with speed, like they had been doing all night, and this time Cureton slotted it past Taylor for the opening goal.

This saw the introduction of Andy Baird for McSporran and within two minutes he should have scored the equaliser. Roberts playing wide on the right had Devine in the box. His cross was, however, pulled back to the unmarked approaching Baird, who could only side foot his shot into the legs of a Reading defender. It was Wycombe's best chance of the evening.

This was fast flowing football. Not your typical blood and guts local derby. On 72 minutes Taylor saved again. After some pressure the ball was cleared to Adi Vivash and his shot was turned around the post for a corner.

In the last 15 minutes there were a number of substitutions. Cureton was replaced by Anthony Rougier, Currie came off for Keith Ryan, and Forster was substituted for Darius Henderson.

Without too much real creativity Wycombe tried hard to find the equaliser, with Baird getting closest on 86 minutes but his pass from Michael Simpson just cleared the crossbar.

With too many players pushed forward there were large gaps at the back and in injury time Henderson found himself clear to dribble past Taylor to make the final score 2-0.

Man of the Match : Danny Senda

Wycombe Wanderers: Martin Taylor, Chris Vinnicombe, David Tuthill, Mark Rogers, Danny Senda, Steve Brown (Stuart Roberts 62) , Dannie Bullman, Michael Simpson, Darren Currie (Keith Ryan 80) Sean Devine, Jermaine McSporran (Andy Baird 68). Subs not used Paul Emblen, Martyn Lee

Reading: Phil Whitehead, Graeme Murty, Adi Vivash, Nicky Forster (Darius Henderson), Andy Hughes, Jamie Cureton (Anthony Rougier 74), Sammy Igoe, Phil Parkinson, John Mackie, Nicky Shorey, John Salako.

Attendance: 9,250 of which 2,273 were from Reading

By Gary Styles