After their improved form of late, Farnham had high hopes of beating Reading Town, only one place above them in the Combined Counties League table.

But there was little sign of Farnham's mini revival on Saturday as a far superior Reading cruised to an emphatic victory.

It might have been different if Nigel Moore had not missed a sitter after just two minutes, shooting over the bar from no more than six yards.

From then on, the visitors were always in command and only Town's fighting spirit saved them them heavier punishment.

As a team, Farnham never got it together, in sharp contrast to Reading whose players all seemed to be on the same wave-length.

Paul Hatton's miraculous goal-line clearance denied Reading an early lead, but Farnham's fragile defence was duly breached after 15 minutes.

Town failed to clear a free-kick and the ball fell nicely for Dave Tonna who thumped it past Matt Collins in the home goal.

Farnham battled hard for the rest of the half and could have equalised when the lively Darren Wheeler whipped in a free-kick and Joe Banks put a half-chance over the top.

But that was effectively Farnham's last chance to stay in contention. They conceded the simplest of goals as Bobby Wilkinson sent Steve Dale clear of a square defence to stroke the ball past the advancing Collins and make it 2-0.

The third goal came on the hour when Collins charged out to intercept a long through-ball, only to lose out to Dale who bravely nudged the bouncing ball over the 'keeper and into an empty net.

Reading were now making it look easy and wrapped up the points with a fourth goal on 72 minutes. The skilful Wilkinson this time set up Nathan Broad who nonchalantly sidestepped Collins before slotting into an empty goal.

Farnham took some comfort from the display of centre-back Matt Wheeler whose crunching, but well-timed tackles prevented several more goals.

Farnham: Collins, Hatton, Slessor (A May 57 mins), Hunter, M Wheeler, Wright, Frommholz, M Tigwell (Ellen 75 mins), Banks, Moore (Cunningham 84 mins), D Wheeler.