It was a pulsating night at the Select Car Leasing Stadium as Reading FC edged out local rivals Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 in a dramatic League One encounter on February 14, 2026. The match had everything: a hat trick hero, a spirited comeback, tactical twists, and enough tension to keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Jack Marriott was the undoubted star of the evening, bagging all three goals for Reading and ensuring the Royals leapfrogged Wycombe in the standings. His clinical finishing proved the difference, as Wycombe clawed their way back from two goals down, only to be denied by Marriott’s relentless nose for goal.
The stakes were already high before kickoff. Both sides sat locked on 43 points, with Wycombe only ahead in ninth place due to a superior goal difference. The Chairboys, managed by Michael Duff since September 2025, had enjoyed a strong run of form—four wins from their previous six and just one defeat in seven since the turn of the year. Their confidence was boosted by a thumping 4-0 win over Doncaster Rovers the previous weekend. Reading, meanwhile, were looking to build on their own momentum after a hard-fought 2-1 away win at Wigan.
The rivalry between these Berkshire and Buckinghamshire neighbors has always been intense, and this latest chapter did not disappoint. Reading manager Leam Richardson set the tone early, urging his side to “stay connected” and match Wycombe’s energy. The Royals responded in kind, starting brightly and pressing high up the pitch.
It took just minutes for the home crowd to find their voice. Marriott, Reading’s talismanic striker, pounced on a defensive lapse, beating Anders Hagelskjaer to a loose ball and delicately lifting his finish over Wycombe keeper Will Norris. The early goal rattled the visitors, but they quickly regrouped, carving out several chances of their own. Junior Quitirna and Luke Harris both tested Reading’s Joel Pereira, while Hagelskjaer flashed a shot just wide.
Wycombe’s best chance of the half came when Harris’ effort was parried into Quitirna’s path, but the winger blazed over with the net at his mercy. It was a moment that would haunt the Chairboys, as Reading doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Marriott was the man again, capitalizing on Dan Harvie’s miscontrol, racing clear, and slotting home with authority. The 31-year-old’s second of the night was his 15th goal of the season, and it looked like Reading were cruising.
But Wycombe, under Duff’s guidance, have made a habit of fighting back. The visitors emerged from the interval with renewed purpose, and within five minutes, they had halved the deficit. Aaron Morley’s free-kick was flicked on by Cauley Woodrow, and Dan Casey was on hand to score his third goal for the club since joining from Motherwell. Suddenly, the momentum had shifted.
Reading struggled to regain their composure as Wycombe poured forward. Quitirna, Harris, and Fred Onyedinma—one of the team’s standout players since rejoining the club in August 2024—continued to threaten. The equalizer finally arrived with just under 15 minutes left, and it was a beauty. Hagelskjaer, who had come close earlier, popped up with his first goal in English football, thumping home in a fashion any striker would envy. Wycombe’s bench erupted, and for a moment, it seemed the visitors might snatch all three points.
But football can be cruel, and this night belonged to Marriott. Barely two minutes after Hagelskjaer’s equalizer, the Reading striker completed his hat trick—his 16th goal of the campaign—by reacting quickest to another defensive error and firing past Norris. The stadium exploded in celebration as Marriott’s teammates mobbed him near the corner flag. The Royals had reclaimed the lead, and this time, they would not relinquish it.
After the match, Leam Richardson was full of praise for his players’ resilience. “It was a fantastic result. We started the game well and maybe we could have managed the game better in the second half,” Richardson said. “But the work ethic and how we stayed connected was excellent. Jack has been like that [scoring goals] since he first put on a pair of boots – and he still is. 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 also dedicated the win to the loyal fans who traveled to Wigan for the previous away match, saying, “For those fans who went all the way to Wigan, we dedicate today’s win to them.”
Wycombe boss Michael Duff, meanwhile, cut a frustrated figure as he dissected his team’s defensive lapses. “With their first goal, it was us who had a three-on-one,” Duff lamented. “For the second, it was just a disaster. And the third one was even worse because we had just got back in the game. The whole momentum of the game was with us, it was us attacking them. 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.”
Despite the setback, Duff found positives in his team’s performance, particularly their ability to create chances and dominate possession for stretches of the match. However, he acknowledged that individual errors had cost them dearly. Wycombe’s recent run of form had lifted them as high as ninth, but the defeat saw them slip to 11th, with a tricky trip to Exeter City looming on February 17, 2026.
For Reading, the victory was more than just three points—it was a statement of intent as they continue their push toward the playoff spots. Marriott’s hat trick will dominate the headlines, but this was a team effort built on grit, determination, and a willingness to respond to adversity. With both clubs still very much in the thick of the playoff race, the League One season promises more twists and turns ahead.
As the dust settles on a thrilling night in Berkshire, Reading fans can savor a memorable derby triumph, while Wycombe are left to regroup and refocus for the battles to come. One thing’s certain: if these two sides meet again this season, it’ll be another must-watch occasion!