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Reserves see off Saints

Posted on: Thu 21 Jan 2010

The Royals reserves got back to competitive action in style on Monday afternoon, with a 3-2 victory over Southampton.

Nicholas Bignall grabbed a hat-trick on his first outing in blue and white hoops since returning from a loan spell at Stockport, in a pulsating encounter at the Saints' Staplewood training ground.

A young Reading side, headed up by youth team boss Eamonn Dolan, took the lead early in the game after an incisive cross from Abdulai Bell-Baggie allowed 19-year-old Bignall to bundle home the opener - before Southampton equalised after the visitors failed to properly clear their lines from a set-piece.

A resurgent Saints then took the lead ten minutes before the break, but the Royals rallied brilliantly after half time and levelled things up as Bignall raced away to bag his brace.

The youth academy product secured the match ball and all three points for his side as he once again latched onto a pinpoint Bell-Baggie through ball before lashing home the final goal of the afternoon.

"I think both Brian McDermott and Nigel Gibbs would have been pleased at the fighting spirit shown by the lads," said Dolan. "It was a very positive day and we rallied terrifically in the second half."

Reading XI: Hamer, Cummings, Isaac, Henry, Pearce, Macdonald, Bell Baggie, Vasilev, Bignall, Taylor, Kanu
Subs: D'Ath, Santangelo, Rowe, Mills, Walcott

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