The account of the action from Gander Green Lane
Reading continued pre-season against Sutton United on Saturday; the hosts ran out 2-0 winners at Gander Green Lane.
It was a game that had seen the Royals dominate the chances until two quick-fire goals by the home side, just before the hour-mark. Nevertheless a chance to keep ticking towards the first game of the campaign, get more minutes into the legs of 22 players, and play under the new boss for the first time.
A little over 24 hours after being officially confirmed as Royals boss, manager Rubén Sellés picked his first starting XI as we made the trip to Gander Green Lane. Harvey Knibbs came in for his first appearance as a Royal, and two of the seven named trialists were named in the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis also made a start on his return to the ground where he earned promotion.
The game kicked off in blustery conditions – and the heavens opened on the ten-minute mark. By that time, both sides had had chances; Sutton with free-kicks from Harry Beautyman and Rob Milsom, both saved, and a Royals counter saw Femi Azeez have an effort blocked behind.
Then Azeez did manage to force a save from goalkeeper Steve Arnold, striking first-time from the left-hand byline. The angle was narrow and the goalie did well to hold the powerful effort.
Reading were beginning to get into a groove… full-back Kelvin Abrefa raced down the Royals’ right and hung up a cross which Nesta Guinness-Walker met on the volley on the far side, but it lacked the sufficient power to trouble the goalie.
The hard-working Harvey Knibbs raced forward to get onto a pass from Azeez, and tried to reverse into the path of Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan – only for his effort to be blocked behind. From the corner that followed, Ehibhatiomhan had another chance as the U’s failed to clear their lines, but his low drive was gathered by the goalie.
And Ehibhatiomhan had his head in his hands when he wasn't able to convert a great opportunity - the Royals had worked the ball brilliantly through the thirds and a defence-splitting pass from Abrefa found the forward on the run. Nipping past the goalkeeper, he tried to slot in from wide on the right - the angle was tight and his shot was the wrong side of the upright.
Reading were continuing to ask all the questions, but the breakthrough goal just wouldn't come. Azeez picked up on the run after a bundling tackle from a teammate... he had options when he got the edge of the area, but opted to go solo - and ultimately cleared the crossbar with his shot.
Then Azeez tried to turn provider with a strafing corner-kick from the left - met with a powerful header by our midfield trialist, but narrowly wide. Goalless at the break.
Half-time | Sutton United 0-0 Reading
One change at the break saw Bouzanis replaced in goal by Jokull Andresson.
And Azeez again showed his trickery within two minutes of the restart - wide right, he popped a low effort away which deflected just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
All of Reading's efforts had been without a goal to show for it... and just before the hour, Sutton scored twice within three minutes to open up a 2-0 lead.
The first came when a mazy run down the left Tope Fadahunsi allowed him to square for a Sutton trialist, whose deflected effort beat Jokull Andresson in the Reading net. The next was similar in build-up as Lee Angol drove down the left, but the finish was purer as he went alone and thundered an unstoppable effort in off the underside of the crossbar.
That preceded a wholesale change of the outfield 10 - on came a younger squad, including four more trialists.
There was intent, energy and postivity about the youngsters that came on for the final third; they were dominating possession against a team filled with senior professionals. Ultimately though, final passes or important touches were just lacking in the key moments.
However Reading did manage a late flurry of opportunities; Mamadi Camara stabbed a pass through the lines for a trialist to rush onto, but he was leaning back when he pulled the trigger.
And minutes later, another trialist drove through the heart of the Sutton defence before firing low on his left foot; his effort too close to the goalkeeper and collected down low.
So no consolatory goal to show for our efforts. As ever, nothing riding on the result in pre-season, and more minutes into the legs of two teams' worth of players as we continue to build towards the League One kick-off in three weeks' time.
Full-time | Sutton United 2-0 Reading
Reading (1-60): Bouzanis (Andresson HT), Abrefa, Guinness-Walker, Holmes, McIntyre, Trialist, Hutchinson, Trialist, Azeez, Knibbs, Ehibhatiomhan.
Reading (61-90): Andresson, Abbey, Dorsett, Trialist, Abdel Salam, Trialist, Maragh, Trialist, Senga, Camara, Trialist, Vickers.