Photo by Greig Bertram/blazephoto.net

A young Reading XI narrowly went down 3-2 in a friendly at Farnborough on Wednesday evening.

We took the lead with less than a minute gone, captain Michail Antonio cutting in from the right and striking a cracking effort right into the top corner.

Jake Taylor nearly doubled the lead soon afterwards when the 'Boro 'keeper was forced to tip his fierce drive over.

The home side equalised on 18 minutes though when Bradley Bubb cut through the defence and slid past our young 'keeper Simon Locke.

Then Bubb scored again on 21 when he headed home a right wing cross from Anthony Thomas.

On the half hour Jack Mills was very close to an equaliser when heading Antonio's corner over. But the leveller did come on 36 when the only two professional players in our squad combined, Antonio crossing from the right and Bryant sliding in the far post to convert.

'Boro sealed the win in the second half when Thomas hit a tremendous volley from outside the area on 52.

Triallist duo Taylor Morgan and Harry Harding shared a game for us. Morgan is an England Schools international forward and Harding is with Bromley.

Reading: Locke, Joyce (Tyler 82), Browne, MacDonald, Mills (Cox 85); O Kelly, Taylor, Antonio (c), Baggie (Rowe 66); Morgan (Harding 58), Bryant
Subs: Santangelo, White, Stockinger, Walcott

Attendance: 602