Shrewsbury Town scored three brilliant goals to secure three points on their first visit to the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
An electric start by Salop saw us score two goals in just under five minutes.
Jordan Shipley put Town 1-0 up with a brilliant volley from the edge of the box before Tom Bayliss doubled our lead, finishing off a fantastic move.
Reading pulled two back, but Salop took the lead once more as Tom Bloxham picked one out beautifully from the edge of the box.
Teams news:
Boss Hurst made one change from the team that took on Wigan last weekend with Dan Udoh missing the trip to Berkshire through illness.
That meant Ryan Bowman came into the side up front with Tom Bloxham on the right wing and Jordan Shipley on the left.
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Carl Winchester sat deep alongside Jack Hinchy with Tom Bayliss slightly more advanced.
Reading lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Sam Smith the lone striker and Harvey Knibbs in the number 10 role. Femi Azeez and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan were the wide men.
REPORT:
In what was an incredible start to the match, Town found themselves 2-0 up inside the opening five minutes - with both goals outstanding.
It was Shipley who broke the deadlock when - from a corner - Bayliss pinged the ball to him on the edge of the box.
And Shipley then produced an outstanding volley to fire in first time - with its power ensuring David Button couldn't keep it out.
Just over 60 seconds later, we were 2-0 up when some wonderful one-touch football involving Bayliss, Bowman and Shipley.
Bayliss then carried the ball into the box before tricking his way past a defender and firing in.
The frantic start continued when Smith pulled a goal back for the hosts in the ninth minute - with the striker beating the offside trap before firing in.
Immediately, Salop had a decent chance to extend their two-goal lead when Bloxham charged down the right-hand side.
He then hit a low drive that a diving Button got down to parry away.
Reading went on to equalise just past the half-hour mark when Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan worked it onto his right foot and saw his effort deflect over Marko Marosi.
But in time added on at the end of the first half, Town again got themselves in front when Shipley found Bloxham on the edge of the box.
The winger had been a threat all half. But he then produced a wonderful strike to place the ball into the corner of the net from 18 yards.
The second half proved to be a lot more calm than the first with Town defending well.
Reading did have an excellent chance to pull level when the ball was worked to Azeez on the corner of the six-yard box.
He then cut inside his marker before powering a strike at goal that Marko Marosi did brilliantly to fling himself in front of to block.
Salop then went up the other end with Bayliss millimetres away from connecting with a dangerous Shipley cross.
Overall, though, Town did what they had to keep the Royals at bay with three outstanding first-half goals enough to see us take a deserved three points back to Shropshire.
Teams:
Reading: Button, Mola, Knibbs, Savage (Elliott 64), Smith, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan (Mukairu 64), Yiadom (Wareham 86), Bindon, Mbengue, Wing.
Subs not used: Pereira, Monlouis, Abrefa, Craig.
Shrewsbury: Marosi, Feeney, Dunkley, Pierre (Sraha 31), Benning, Hinchy (Kenneh 59), Winchester, Bayliss (Perry 83), Shipley, Bloxham (Sobowale 83), Bowman.Subs not used: Burgoyne, O'Brien, Bennett.
Referee: Ollie Yates.
Attendance: 12,904 (783 away)
