Reading signed off their season with a disappointing performance and a result, which ultimately, made no difference whatsoever to their lingering hopes of making the play-offs. Even if they had manged to overcome a decent Barnsley side, Orient demolished Huddersfield away from home when to gain the three pints they required to retain their top six spot.

With the announcement of a finalised agreement of the current owner's intention to finally sell the club to former Wycombe owner Rob Couhig earlier in the day, and a sell-out 21,481 crowd basking in the Mat sunshine at the SLC stadium, the scene was set for a fairy tale ending to a long and difficult season. It was not to be but, most loyal Reading fans will, I hope, look back on this season as one of which the players, staff and fans should feel proud, and forward to the next one with optimism.

It was clear from the start Barnsley were determined to extinguish Reading's hopes of an unlikely promotion. The Yorkshire side played with an intensity which gave them an edge and ultimately a performance deserving of victory.

Noel Hunt was successful in building on the work of Ruben Seles to generate a momentum which initially eliminated the fear of relegation and then to instil a belief that promotion was a realistic possibility. Today the strengths and weaknesses of the squad were evident. Moments of superb passing and movement, defensive frailty, and a lack of a cutting edge in the final third. The quality of the squad was never in doubt, the depth of experience became evident at the business end of the season.

Conceding twice early in the second half, and news Orient were clearly not likely to falter away to Huddersfield, visibly sapped the energy out Reading and even a Wing strike to reduce the deficit could not provide the necessary lift to deliver the required result. Certainly the crowd sensed the game was up long before the end.

Charlie Savage was identified as Man of the Match by Radio Berkshire, but Lewis Wing produced the kind of performance which deservedly earned him the Player of the Season award. Pereira produced a string of saves to keep Reading in the game. (Which has often been necessary this season.)

Above all, this season I have enjoyed watching a Reading team playing as team and producing some excellent football. Under new ownership the club can now build for success instead of desperately hanging on to survival.

John Wells