Reading Under-21s fell to a 6-0 defeat away to Southampton Under-21s.
First-half goals from Princewill Ehibhatiomhan and Kami Doyle gave the Saints the advantage at the interval, which was compounded by second-half strikes from Sam Amo-Ameyaw, a brace for Tyler Dinling, and a second for Doyle.
Jayden Wareham went closest, hitting the underside of the bar with a half-volley from a corner as the Royals fell to their second Premier League 2 defeat of the season.
Taylan Harris had the Royals first chance on goal with a free-kick 25 yards out after Kelvin Abrefa was brought back , but his attempted knuckle ball sailed over the bar.
Southampton’s first effort saw Tom Norcott called into action, with the goalkeeper easily held onto Dibling’s weak shot after he was played through.
Norcott then did extremely well to react to Jayden Meghoma’s powerful strike from 35 yards out, tipping it over the bar.
The Saints went close again a few minutes later through Amo-Ameyaw, but the winger could not capitalise on the excellent ball which slipped him in and put his shot wide.
Amo-Ameyaw again looked to threaten the Reading net with an attempted curled effort from the right of the box, but his shot flew past the far post.
It would be the Saints who took the lead closer to half-time, with a long ball over the top causing confusion between Norcott and Michael Stickland. Ehibhatiomhan was there and latched onto the loose ball, finishing from a tight angle into an empty net.
Things went from bad to worse on the stroke of half-time for the Royals.
Saints captain Doyle let fly from outside the box, with his effort taking a wicked deflection to wrong foot Norcott and fly into the back of the net, doubling the home sides’ advantage.
Half-time: Southampton U21 2-0 Reading U21
The hosts were fastest out the blocks when play resumed, with Amo-Ameyaw working some magic with his feet to send two Reading defenders the wrong way.
He continued his dribble into the box before finishing well through Norcott’s legs for the Saints’ third.
The Royals looked to bounce back from a difficult situation and won a first corner of the game quickly after, taken by Sam Paul. The full-back’s delivery went over everyone and found Wareham at the far-post with the striker taking on the half-volley. However, his effort cannoned off the underside of the bar.
Quickly after, the Saints had a fourth. Some more good play from the hosts saw Dibling picked out in the middle of the area, and he made no mistake with a confident finish.
The Royals were searching hard for a way back into the game and almost found it when Charlie Wellens was picked out in almost an identical spot, but his shot was stopped excellently by the legs of Adli Mohamed.
Southampton added a fifth quickly after, going straight up the other end and finding Doyle, who added his second of the evening.
Wareham went close again after winning the ball back high and driving into the box, but his shot across goal drifted wide off the far-post.
Five then became six with Dibling’s second to round out an evening to forget, but also an opportunity to learn, for the Under-21s.
Full-time: Southampton U21 6-0 Reading U21
Southampton U21s: Mohamed, Davis, Armitage, Awe, Meghoma, Bragg, Amo-Aweyaw, Doyle ©, Ehibhatiomhan, Dibling, Merry.
Subs: McNamara, Lett, Vokins, Robinson, Edwards.
Goals: Ehibhatiomhan 38, Doyle 45+1, 65, Amo-Ameyaw 50, Dibling 55, 74.
Reading U21s: Norcott, Abrefa, Paul, Stickland ©, Dorsett, Holmes, Harris (Guinness-Walker 49), Borgnis (Purcell 65), Okine-Peters (Spencer 74), Wareham, Wellens (Clark 65).
Unused subs: Rhone.
Yellow cards: Dorsett 90+3.