Reading's reserves beat Crystal Palace 6-2 at Hogwood Park on Wednesday with a hat-trick for David Mooney.

Mooney has not played since picking up an injury while on loan at Stockport County January, but plundered three goals in this behind-closed-doors match.

Leroy Lita also helped himself to a brace against the Eagles, and England youth international midfielder Abdulai Baggie rounded off the scoring late on.

Sam Sodje played 45 minutes on this his first appearance in almost six months after undergoing a knee operation.

Reading: Andersen; Kelly, Harding, Hateley, Sodje (Kamdjo HT); Harper, Karacan, Spence (Taylor 71), Frewen (Baggie 71); Lita, Mooney
Subs: Kitteridge, Vasilev

Mooney gave the Royals a 2-0 lead with a couple of early goals, but Palace fought back and made it 2-2 at the break.

Lita then scored both of his goals before Mooney completed his hat-trick and Baggie put the final seal on the rout.

Reserve team boss Brian McDermott said, "We showed a really good attitude and it was a good day for us.

"A couple of details went wrong in the first half and we gave away a couple of goals that we weren't happy about.

"Mooney will have been pleased with his involvement on his first game back and could even have had a couple more. Now we just need to get him playing a bunch of games.

"We had Harps in there, Lita too, everyone showed a good attitude and it was good to see Baggie get one late on.

"Sodje got 45 minutes, he needed that and got through it fine. He gave a typical Sodje performance as always, he gave everything and wins his headers.

"After last night's first team win there was a buzz around the training ground, the attitude was good, it was a good day."

Look for video highlights on Reading World on Friday.