The skipper opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and then Ricardco Vaz Te added a second on 34 minutes that saw the Hammers go into the break in full command at 2-0.
The Hammers started slowly in the second-half and Reading responded brilliantly by reducing the deficit through Gareth McClearly and then substitute Adam Le Fondre equalised for the Royal’s after only 10 second-half minutes.
The Hammers eventually settled into the game and began to put pressure on the Reading defence. Captain Nolan hit a classy side-foot finish for his second of the game to put the Hammers up 3-2 before securing his hat-trick in the 87th minute with a header from substitute Modibo Maiga’s cross.