Reading 1 (Bignall 85)
Aldershot 1 (Elvins 75)
Our reserves drew 1-1 with Aldershot on Wednesday afternoon as Nicholas Bignall notched a late equaliser to secure a point at the Recreation Ground.
Striker Ben Wright got 90 minutes as he played on trial from Hampton & Richmond, while returning skipper Graeme Murty got an hour at the heart of the defence.
It was a well-contested game, and Reading had plenty of chances to open the scoring but found home 'keeper Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz in very good form.
Rob Elvins broke the deadlock with 15 minutes to go, lashing home a 25-yarder, but Bignall levelled matters five minutes before full time with Wright involved in the build-up.
Reading: McCarthy; Kelly, Golbourne, Kamdjo, Murty (c) (Bozanic 60); Karacan (Bignall 71), Sigurdsson, Convey (Antonio 71), Robson-Kanu; Mooney, Wright
Subs: Locke, Taylor
Coach Nigel Gibbs told readingfc.co.uk, "It was a very competitive game and one I thought we should have won.
"Aldershot started brightly, but then we got well into it and had several chances with David Mooney, Ben Wright and Hal Robson-Kanu going close.
"Their 'keeper had a good game and they got good blocks at the back in as the second half followed the same pattern. The Shots had a bit of play in fairness and scored a 25-yarder that gave Alex McCarthy no chance.
"We deservedly got a goal late on and like I say we should have won the game.
"Murty got an hour under his belt and came through unscathed, he can build on that and looked comfortable.
"The triallist Wright did well, he had a hand in the goal. He had a couple of chances and had a decent game, he can be pleased with his performance."
Wright is a 19-year-old striker from Hampton & Richmond. He has scored ten goals this season in 17(+8) game for the Blue Square South side so far this season.
The Royals are third in the ten-team totesport.com combination table, two points off leaders Southampton but with two games in hand.
Look out for a full picture gallery on Thursday, with video highlights to follow on Reading World soon afterwards.
