Football fans are no strangers to roller-coaster rides - especially those of Ipswich Town.

But rarely can Blues fans have experienced such extremes of emotion than in this pulsating clash at the Madejski Stadium.

And especially in such a short space of time.

From complete ecstasy, Town plunged to bitter disappointment after two goals in just a handful of seconds right at the death.

From the brink of poaching maximum points, they had to settle for a share of the spoils after conceding a last-gasp equaliser.

Despite the chaotic scenes at the end, a draw was a fair result.

Town were poor in the first half and relieved to go in at the interval with the scoresheet blank.

But they were vastly improved after the break - dominant for long spells - and thought they had snatched the ultimate reward on 90 minutes.

Darren Currie capitalised on a mistake by Royals skipper Graeme Murty and unselfishly squared for Darren Bent.

When the ball deflected into his path off a defender, the striker produced a clinical finish into the bottom-right corner, sparking wild celebrations among Town's bumper support of 4,300 fans.

Quite simply, they thought the game was won. How wrong they were.

Reading kicked off and attacked down the right. Then, when Glen Little's cross got the better of Fabian Wilnis, Ivar Ingimarsson squeezed his volley inside the left-hand post.

Cue more scenes of unbridled delight, except this time among the home fans.

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Published Monday, January 24, 2005

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