Farnham were left bemoaning their luck after a late controversial penalty that tilted this FA Cup-tie in Reading's favour on Saturday.

But the fact remained that Farnham were outplayed for much of the game, even though they had the advantage of playing on their own ground, Reading having asked for a change of venue after their changing-rooms had been vandalised.

A new-look Town were second best in the first half to Reading who finished second from bottom of the Combined Counties League last season.

With a new young manager in charge, Reading are looking a much tougher outfit.

Farnham, having been kept in the game by Chris Edmunds' excellent goalkeeping, finally came to life after a couple of substitutions.

With 11 minutes left, they equalised and it seemed likely that the tie would return to the Memorial Ground on Tuesday.

Then, in the 86th minute, Edmunds followed up a brave block by diving for the loose ball at the feet of Dave Mills who went tumbling. To Farnham's fury, the referee immediately pointed to the spot and skipper Tommy Boylan drove home the decisive goal.

Duncan Evans was booked as the arguments continued and, just to rub salt into the wounds, Mills made it 3-1 with a speculative long-range lob.

As Farnham left the pitch, still sounding off, a Reading official was heard to say: "Don't tell me you've never had a close game settled like that – some days it goes for you, other days it doesn't. That's football."

Wise words, but not much comfort to Farnham who need a win or two to settle their much-changed side.

Andy Nunn's starting line-up contained just five regulars from last season and, for the first 45 minutes, they played like a team of strangers

Reading had nearly all the play and it was 20 minutes before Neil Grimes had what could be described as a Farnham shot on target.

Farnham were not too impressed with Reading's first goal on the half-hour.

John Charlton broke clear on the right as Town waited for an offside whistle that never came and the resulting cross was prodded in at the far post by Syran Clarke.

With Town struggling to put more than two passes together, the Berkshire side looked like strolling through the game. They seemed to have doubled their lead 18 minutes into the second half when Rob Tyson's free header flew towards the top corner. But Edmunds somehow got across to make a miraculous one-handed save.

Another outstanding save by Edmunds denied Clarke a second goal, but Farnham were at last starting to look dangerous themselves.

Striker Enrico Grimm immediately started to cause problems when he came on and the arrival of Kevin Annetts injected some much-needed pace on the right.

Farnham raised their work-rate, too, and with the tackles flying in thick and fast, the game was at last resembling a genuine cup-tie.

Graeme Miles mis-timed his header when Annetts whipped over a superb cross, but the equaliser followed from Town's best move of the match.

Grimm and skipper Matt Edwards were involved in the build-up before Miles knocked the ball back for Chris Evans to ram home a sweet first-time shot.

Evans' celebration was pretty good too, but the smiles were soon wiped off Farnham's faces as Reading regained the lead from that disputed penalty.

Mills, the villain of the piece as far as Town were concerned, added his cheeky third goal and Reading now look forward to a trip to Whyteleafe in the preliminary round this Saturday.

Reading: Davison, Cox, Bolger, Bullett, Beckley, Boylan, Charlton, Mills (Brade 90 mins), Clarke (Parris 87 mins), Tyson (Baker 76 mins), Millard. Booked: Boylan.

Farnham: Edmunds, McConnell, D Evans (Hooper 88 mins), Wheeler, Grimshaw, Edwards, Grimes, C Evans, Miles, Jones (Grimm 56 mins), Brown (Annetts 75 mins). Sub (not used) Brook. Booked: Edwards, D Evans.