Reading's second string ran out 2-1 winners over Bristol Rovers in a 'behind closed doors' friendly at Hogwood Park this afternoon.
A first half brace from Icelandic striker Gunnar Thordvalsson, currently on trial with the Royals, was enough to give Nigel Gibbs' side the victory in difficult conditions at the club's training base.
Senior squad members Shane Long, Oliver Bozanic and Chris Armstrong all got 90 minutes under their belts to aid respective recoveries from injury, whilst forward Radoslav Vasilev came off the bench for his first action in almost eight months.
Thordvalsson opened the scoring after five minutes, reacting well after Long chased down a ball into the box and forced a smart save out of Pirates 'keeper Rhys Evans - allowing the Icelander to tap home the rebound.
Three minutes later the trialist had his second, cutting inside to the edge of the box before sending an unstoppable drive past Evans from 20-yards.
Ben Swallow's free-kick gave the visitors a lifeline just before the break, but it was Reading who made most of the headway in the second period - with Cisse and Thordvalsson both coming close before the final whistle.
"I was pleased with the lads, it was a blustery afternoon and they were difficult conditions to play football in but we did well, particularly in the second half," said Nigel Gibbs.
"We could have had a few more goals really, but it was a good workout and it was great for some of those guys to get 90 minutes under their belts."
Nigel Gibbs' side have been left without a league game until the new year, after a clash with Bournemouth, scheduled for Tuesday 15th December, was cancelled due to Bournemouth's participation in the FA Youth Cup.
So the clash with the Pirates was arranged to keep fitness levels up within the squad and there are sure to be more behind-closed-doors friendlies planned for the coming month.
Reading: Hamer, Cummings, Armstrong, Cisse (Bel-Baggie), Mills, O'Dea, Robson-Kanu (MacDonald), Gunnarsson (Vasilev), Long, Thordvalsson (Taylor), Bozanic,
Substitute (not used): Locke
Rovers: Evans, Cayford, Kite, Elliott, Tyrell, Wright, Reece, Clough (Clarke 46), Swallow, White, Hunt.
Substitutes (not used): Richards, Holmes, Clarke, Booth, Cooper, Kingdon, McKenna, Plumer
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