READING FC suffered stoppage time heartbreak on Saturday afternoon, conceding in the 93rd minute to lose 2-1 to Exeter City.
The Grecians took a first half lead through Will Aimson after Reading failed to deal with a corner, but Harvey Knibbs restored parity just before the interval with a composed finish.
But with both sides pushing until the last, it was Reece Cole who grabbed the all-important decider, firing home from inside the box.
Reading boss Ruben Selles was forced into two personnel changes with Tyler Bindon suffering concussion in training and Mamadi Camara unavailable to make the trip down – the pair were replaced by Harlee Dean and Femi Azeez respectively.
The Grecians had made a strong start to their League One campaign, registering two wins, a draw and a loss in their opening four fixtures, and came into the match-up in seventh position.
There were a couple of familiar faces in Exeter’s squad, with former Royals Zak Jules and Pierce Sweeney featuring from the start.
Despite taking a few minutes to get going, the visitors were presented with the first meaningful chance of the encounter. Caylan Vickers’ persistence earned his side a free-kick 25 yards from goal, but Charlie Savage could only fire over.
The midfielder took a second bite at the cherry moments later when a perfectly executed cut-back by Harvey Knibbs fell to him on the edge of the box. Going with his weaker right foot, the shot wasn’t struck firmly enough to beat Vil Sinisalo in Exeter’s goal.
Grecians boss Gary Caldwell saw his side come inches from opening the scoring with Tom Carroll and Zak Jules coming close, before Jack Aitchson struck the post. The forward’s effort rebounded back into the danger zone, but David Button reacted quickest and pounced on the ball before any Exeter player could.
The stopper was called into action two minutes later to acrobatically deny Ryan Trevitt, whose curled right-footed effort looked destined for the top right corner.
But Button’s resistance was finally broken a minute later as Reading failed to clear their lines after a short corner – Carroll’s cross found an Aimson who headed home from close range.
The Royals’ most recent league visit to St James Park came 30 years ago – where they edged the Grecians in a thrilling 6-4 League Division 2 tie – and Selles’ side looked determined to replicate the result, restoring parity just before the break.
Femi Azeez broke free down the right and picked out Harvey Knibbs inside the box, who sat his marker down, composed himself, then struck the ball firmly past Sinisalo.
Selles made a double change at the interval, introducing new signing Ben Elliott and Andy Yiadom in place of Vickers and Amadou Mbengue, and could have seen his side take the lead after Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan failed to convert a header from the edge of the six-yard box.
All four corners of a sold-out St James Park rose to applaud the late Eamonn Dolan in the 48th minute. The Irishman enjoyed success as Exeter boss and Reading Academy director before he died in 2016 – the tribute was fitting for a man who had left an indelible legacy at both clubs.
If the home side had the better of the first half, the Royals looked to take control in the second period, with Azeez presented with two golden opportunities to put his side ahead.
The winger struck the post after Ehibhatiomhan powered towards the byline before flashing the ball into his feet, before being fed a sumptuous through-ball by Elliott on the break – on this occasion, Azeez fired wide by only a yard.
Heading into the final quarter of the match, play became more stretched and the Royals were perhaps fortunate that Exeter failed to capitalise on a number of half-chances and openings. Substitute Kyle Taylor came close to grabbing a winner, firing high and wide after working a yard of space cutting in from the left.
But it was indeed the Grecians who secured victory at the death, with Reece Cole firing home powerfully in the 93rd minute.
The defeat leaves Reading in 16th position in the League One table.
Line ups:
Exeter: Sinisalo (GK), Jules, Aimson, Hartridge, Carroll, Mitchell, Trevitt, Niskanen, Rankine, Sweeny, Aitchson
Substitutes: Woods, Nombe, Cole, Taylor, Harper, Diabate, Borges
Reading: Button (GK), Dean, Knibbs, Savage, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan, Hutchinson, Mbengue, Abbey, Vickers, Carson
Substitutes: Boyce-Clarke, Elliott, McIntyre, Mukairu, Yiadom, Craig, Tuma
