READING's winless run stretched to four matches on Tuesday evening as Holyport came from behind to win 2-1 at Scours Lane.

The loss sees Town remain ninth in the Hellenic Premier and is all the more disappointing for manager Mark Bartley after their 1-1 draw at high-flying Oxford City Nomads at the weekend.

Nomads were bidding for their 10th successive league victory and looked on course when Conor McDonagh smashed in a shot from 20 yards.

But Town weathered the storm and improved in the second half, with Jamie Piercy grabbing the equaliser midway through the period.

Oneal Garnes ensured Town took a point home with a couple of fine saves in the dying stages, including a close-range effort from Denel Thomas.

Garnes was largely a spectator in the first half on Tuesday as Town dominated Port and took the lead when Richard Witt fired home from the penalty spot.

Town could have had two more penalties for fouls on Michael Bartley and Ashley Watkins but the referee waved away the appeals.

And Port capitalised by equalising early in the second half through Dan Rapley and then snatching victory when the same player scored again with 20 minutes remaining.

"It was massively disappointing to lose," Town manager Mark Bartley said. "I felt we had the beating of them and I don't think they particularly did anything special in the second half, it was just a case of us not being up to it."

Town renew their rivalry with Binfield this Saturday when they travel to Hill Farm Lane, with the two sides already having met five times this season.

Reading have beaten the Moles just once this campaign, but although striker Carl Davies is set to feature after his return from Thatcham Town, Bartley is not concerned.

"It's not necessarily a negative that Carl Davies is back, he is a known quantity to us, him and Ian Davies we know," he said.

"I've seen my defence handle them both before and I am confident that we can deal with them. I expect it will be a full- blooded encounter and we are determined to win."

Bartley is expecting to have nearly a full strength squad at his disposal for the match and said: " It will be the first time for a while that we will have nearly our full squad out.

"Ben Spence has been back in training which is a massive boost so it will be a good selection headache."

Town, though, will be without top scorer Ray Spence who is unavailable due to work commitments.