Villa came from behind to share the points with title rivals Reading at Villa Park.

Shane Long put the visitors ahead midway through the first-half, but Stephen O'Halloran levelled matters 11 minutes after the break.

A draw was probaly a fair result from a keenly fought contest and Villa remain four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League (south)

Routledge produced a powerful run down the right straight from kick-off, but was crowded out by Bikey and de la Cruz.

Delfouneso carved out an opening on six, but saw his rising drive blocked by Reading keeper Federici.

League leaders Villa made a promising start against the second placed Royals, with Delfouneso and Routledge both lively in the early stages.

Bennett almost beat his own keeper with a bizarre back pass on 15. Federici just recovered to clear off the line.

Delfouneso fired over the bar from the edge of the box three minutes later after clever approach play from Berger and Bannan.

The visitors had the lead on 20 as Long rose to meet a right-wing free-kick, heading beyond Taylor.

Villa keeper Taylor produced a superb one on one save to deny Lita three minutes later as the striker raced onto a long clearance.

Berger might have levelled matters as he raced onto a Delfouneso through ball on 27, but the midfield veteran fired wide from the edge of the box.

With Villa chasing an equaliser, Routledge fired wide as he met a right-wing corner from Berger on 31.

Halls blazed over on 37 as he met Kebe's clever cut back from the right.

Delfouneso produced a surging run down the left on 42, but was unable to find Routledge with his low near-post cross.

Federici comfortably gathered a low deflected drive from Berger on 44.

Delfouneso headed onto the roof of the net in stoppage-time as he met Bannan's inviting left-wing cross.

Salifou fired just wide as he was teed-up by Bannan, cutting in from the left, on 48. Another effort from the Togolese international was charged down by Bennett a minute later.

Lund denied Long with a goal-line clearance on 52, before Taylor produced a spectacular double save to deny Halls and then Long.

Villa were level on 56 as O'Halloran met Berger's pinpoint inswinging free-kick from the right with an angled header beyond Federici.

The Reading keeper dived bravely at Delfouneso's feet two minutes later as Villa looked for a second.

O'Halloran almost had a second on 63, but saw his header from a Bannan free-kick blocked by Federici.

Delfouneso tested Federici with a rising drive on 70, but the Reading keeper gathered comfortably.

Delfouneso cleared off the line from Halls on 78 as the Reading man met Karacan's left-wing corner.

Salifou dragged a low shot just wide after a surging run from the halfway line on 81.

Delfouneso just failed to connect with an inviting centre from Villa substitute Albrighton on 88.

Federici did well to deny Salifou and then Collins as Villa broke in stoppage-time.

VILLA: Taylor, Lund, O'Halloran, Osbourne, Knight, Baker, Salifou, Routledge, Delfouneso, Bannan, Berger. Subs: D.Bellon, Bevan, Albrighton (for Bannan 85), Earls, Collins (for Berger 61).

Reading: Federici, Rosenior, de la Cruz, Karacan, Bikey, Bennett, Kebe, Lita, Long, Halls, Bozanic. Subs: Golbourne, McCarthy, Kelly (for Bozanic 72), Hateley, Illugason.