Fleet’s second pre-season game ended in defeat to a skilful Reading XI side but it was a competitive match and another chance for Liam Daish to cast an eye over the trialists, many of whom he is already keen to sign.

There were no additional new faces on show from the team that brushed Tonbridge aside last Saturday – and neither was ex-Fleet loanee Gozie Ugwu in the Reading squad. The visitors created the first real chance but a Royals striker fired wide. Not that it troubled them as they were ahead on 16 minutes, Jake Taylor heading a corner past Preston Edwards.

Reading forced the play for much of the first-half and Edwards had to be alert on several occasions, while the crossbar saved him when the visitors did finally get the ball beyond him. But the Fleet fought back and Tom Phipp went close with a header from Kirk Hudson’s corner.