Reading fans were treated to a rollercoaster of emotions at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on February 14, 2026, as their side edged Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 in a pulsating League One contest that had everything: early goals, a dramatic comeback, and a hat-trick hero. The victory not only brought three vital points for the Royals but also saw them leapfrog their Berkshire rivals in the table, keeping their play-off ambitions very much alive.
The match was one of 18 fixtures taking place across League One and League Two, with Reading’s lunchtime kick-off against Wycombe drawing particular attention due to its local derby flavor and its implications for the play-off race. The stakes were high, and the action didn’t disappoint.
Jack Marriott, Reading’s talismanic striker, wasted little time making his mark. Just eight minutes in, Jeriel Dorsett’s long throw caused chaos in the Wycombe box. Marriott, ever the opportunist, beat Anders Hagelskjaer to the loose ball and coolly lifted his finish over goalkeeper Will Norris. It was a statement of intent from the hosts and a sign of things to come from their prolific frontman.
Wycombe, however, were not about to roll over. The Chairboys responded with a flurry of chances. Anders Hagelskjaer saw an effort drift just wide, while Junior Quitirna and Luke Harris both forced Reading’s keeper Joel Pereira into sharp saves. The best opportunity of the half fell to Quitirna, who, with the goal gaping after Harris’ shot was parried into his path, somehow blazed over the bar. It was a miss that would come back to haunt Wycombe before the interval.
As the first half drew to a close, Reading doubled their lead. Dan Harvie’s miscontrol in defense gifted Marriott a one-on-one with Norris, and the 31-year-old made no mistake, driving home an emphatic finish in the 44th minute. With two goals to his name and Wycombe reeling, it looked like the Royals might cruise to victory.
But football rarely follows the script. Wycombe head coach Michael Duff’s halftime talk seemed to inject new life into his side. Just six minutes after the restart, Aaron Morley’s pinpoint free-kick was flicked on by Cauley Woodrow, and Dan Casey rose highest to glance a header past Pereira. Wycombe were back in it, and the momentum began to shift.
Spurred on by their traveling fans, the Chairboys pressed forward with renewed belief. Their persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when Hagelskjaer, eager to make amends for his earlier lapse, showed composure beyond his years. The defender latched onto a loose ball and fired home from a tight angle, notching his first goal in English football since arriving in January 2025. Suddenly, the score was 2-2, and the game was wide open.
For a brief moment, it seemed Wycombe might complete a famous comeback. "We’d just got back in it, and I was pretty convinced we could have gone on to win," said Duff after the match, his frustration evident. "The whole momentum of the game was with us; it was us attacking them."
Yet, the Royals had other ideas—and so did Jack Marriott. Barely two minutes after Hagelskjaer’s equalizer, Reading’s number nine pounced on another defensive mishap. This time, he rifled a precise shot high into the net, completing his hat-trick and restoring Reading’s lead in the 74th minute. It was Marriott’s 16th goal of the season, and arguably his most important yet.
Wycombe pushed desperately for another leveller, but Reading held firm. The final whistle brought relief and jubilation for the home crowd, while the visitors were left to rue missed chances and defensive lapses. For Marriott, the match ball was a fitting reward for his clinical display. "Jack has been like that [scoring goals] since he first put on a pair of boots – and he still is," said Reading manager Leam Richardson. "All three goals were different goals but they were Jack Marriott goals. Once he gets a chance and a sight of goal, he’s always on the spot."
Richardson was quick to praise his team’s resilience in the face of Wycombe’s spirited comeback. "It was a fantastic result. We started the game well and maybe we could have managed the game better in the second half. But the work ethic and how we stayed connected was excellent. The way we responded showed great character. As a football club, we’re definitely moving forward. It’s great to back up an away win [2-1 at Wigan on Tuesday]. For those fans who went all the way to Wigan, we dedicate today’s win to them."
Wycombe, meanwhile, saw their recent good run—four wins in six outings and only one defeat in seven matches in 2026—come to a halt. Duff was candid in his assessment: "Tactically, we got everything wrong. It’s just not good enough. You have to find a way. Some of the players think they must be playing for little old Wycombe or something like that. Big players step up in big moments. That’s what the best players do. In possession, we were really good, but we can’t really talk about that because of the individual errors."
The defeat leaves Wycombe in 11th place, with the potential to drop further depending on results from the afternoon’s other fixtures. The Chairboys now turn their attention to an away trip to Exeter City on February 17, where they’ll look to bounce back and reignite their play-off challenge.
For Reading, the win not only boosts their points tally but also their confidence heading into the business end of the season. With Marriott in red-hot form and Richardson’s men showing grit when it mattered most, the Royals’ supporters have every reason to believe that a play-off push is within reach.
On a day packed with drama across the EFL, it was Jack Marriott’s hat-trick and Reading’s resolve that stole the headlines in Berkshire. As both teams look ahead to their next challenges, the memory of this five-goal thriller will linger long in the minds of players and fans alike.