Kettering Town 2 (Marna 62 pen, 89)
Reading 1 (Church 11)

Results aren't everything in pre-season, but a late winner from Jean-Paul Marna inflicted defeat on Brendan Rodgers' men at Rockingham Road this afternoon.

Simon Church had put the Royals ahead with a close range 11th minute finish from Jimmy Kebe's cross from the byline.

And despite bossing possession, Reading lacked a cutting edge to create the second and when Ben Hamer downed Jean-Paul Marna on 62, the hosts levelled from the spot.

As Reading searched for a route back into the game, it was Kettering who stole the win. Marna swivelled on a loose bouncing ball inside the box and hammered home a left-footed strike high past Hamer to win it for the Poppies.

19-year-old Ryan Bertrand made his debut for the Royals, getting 45 minutes at left back, a day after agreeing a season-long loan from Chelsea.

Kettering Town: Harper, Eaden, Jennings, Geohaghon, Dempster, Fowler, Wrack, Boucaud, Green, Seddon, Spencer.
Subs: Taylor, Beswick, Cooper, Marna.

Reading (4-3-3): Federici (Hamer HT), Rosenior, Bertrand (S Hunt HT), Cisse, Pearce (c) (Gunnarsson 75), Harper, Gunnarsson (Tabb HT), Matejovsky (Karacan HT), Robson-Kanu (Henry HT (Robson-Kanu 63)), Kebe (Long HT), Church.

Ref: I Rathbone
Att: 869

Full report

First half
In contrast to the downpours at Didcot, the game began in bright sunshine and the Royals started well.

Only three minutes had gone when the Royals had a half shout for a penalty - Simon Church turned inside his man and fell to his knees when perhaps clipped by the defender he turns into. The Royals striker didn't really appeal and it would have been very generous had the ref blown.

It wasn't long before Church had his revenge though. Jimmy Kebe collected a swift one-two from Hal Robson-Kanu and arrowed the ball into the six yard box from the byline. Church connected with it at hip height and directed inside the right post via the palm of goalkeeper Lee Harper. 1-0 with 11 minutes gone.

Reading were playing patient passing football, but not creating too many clear cut openings as their Blue Square Premier opponents chased them down well when in possession. And midway through the half the Poppies had their first effort on goal - Gareth Seddon driving just wide of the far post from 20 yards out.

With almost half an hour gone, the impressive Marek Matejovsky swung a good inswinging corner from the left and Church flicked it on at the near post. The ball breezed through the crowded box and wide of the far post without troubling Town's defence.

Six minutes later, Matejovsky made Harper work himself. A well placed right-footed shot from the corner of the box was athletically pushed wide by the home stopper diving low to his right.

And with ten minutes of the half remaining, Robson-Kanu drew an even better save from the Kettering keeper. The midfielder thundered an excellent left-footed effort goalwards from the edge of the area and Harper got a telling fingertip to it to touch it over his crossbar brilliantly.

Second half
Rodgers made a full complement of changes at half time, bringing on all six of his substitutes. But on the hour one had to be re-replaced. James Henry picked up a knock and was replaced by Robson-Kanu only 15 minutes after the winger had been taken off at the break.

Then another of Reading's substitutes was penalised to allow Kettering to equalise. Poppies sub Jean-Paul Marna raced onto a good throughball and fell over Ben Hamer's late dive to earn a penalty. Hamer didn't seem to make any contact but the referee pointed straight to the spot and Marna stepped up to stroke it home from 12 yards.

Church came close to restoring Reading's lead when he scampered onto a ball dinked over the top of the Town defence and drilled a low left-footed effort just wide of the far post from a narrow angle.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Jay Tabb was clattered 25 yards out and earned a free kick. Stephen Hunt lined it up and bent his effort over the wall. Harper couldn't hold it and Karacan arrived onto the loose ball first to drive it goalwards. The Kettering keeper manager to parry the follow-up shot well though and although Church tried to recycle it the danger came to nothing.

Meanwhile, Alex Pearce was replaced by Gunnarsson - no sign of any injury for the skipper though. Brendan Rodgers was choosing to give his centre back a rest after 75 minutes at the back.

Ten minutes were left on the clock and Long flicked Cisse's dinked ball on into Church's sideways run. With a defender on his shoulder Church did well to angle a right-footed shot at goal, but it fizzed just wide of the right post without concerning the host goalkeeper.

Robson-Kanu had a scuffed effort that dribbled wide and then a great run from Hunt saw Church pull it back to Jem Karacan in the dying stages, only for Lee Fowler to deny the midfielder with a great block charging down his effort.

Robson Kanu again tried his luck from 20 yards out and the Kettering keeper had to alert low to his right to prevent a late winner for the Royals.

But against the run of play, Marna pounced on an uncleared cross from the right to swivel on his right foot and fire home high past Hamer with his left. A good finish from the substitute striker, who won the game for the hosts to the delight of the home faithful.