18 mins Anderson header. 1-0

29 mins East penalty. 1-1

43 mins Onen shot. 1-2

Half time: Royals 2 Magpies 1

(53 mins Abbey sent off)

78 mins Melvin-Lambert shot. 1-3

88 mins Cross shot. 2-3

(88 mins Wara sent off)

Full time: Royals 3 Magpies 2

Coach Chris Hogg's side included two un-named trialists, later confirmed to be ex-Stoke City U23s defender Scott Wara and former Manchester United U23s midfielder Dion McGhee.

Both players are looking for new clubs following their release; 21 year-old Fijian Wara reportedly featuring for Wrexham in pre-season and 20 year-old McGhee turning out for German side Greuther Furth earlier this month.

It's also claimed that Oldham-born McGhee has been on trial at Spurs recently, but that's not confirmed.

Attempting to keep track of our League of Nations squad, here's a breakdown of the sixteen players on duty today:

Langley - ex-Academy (England)
Wara - trialist (Fiji)
Francillette - ex-trialist (Guadeloupe)
Cross - ex-trialist (South Africa)
Lazaar - signed (Morocco)
Flaherty - ex-trialist (England)
K.Scott - ex-trialist (England*)
Anderson - ex-Academy (England**)
McGhee - trialist (England)
Vilca - signed (Peru)
Toure - ex-trialist (Senegal***)
Brookwell - ex-trialist (England)
Gamblin - ex-Academy (England)
Thompson - Academy (England)
Indalecio - ex-trialist (France)
Rounsfell - ex-Academy

* represented England/Ireland/USA (!)
** represents Scotland
*** represents Switzerland

 

Waffle

Newcastle U23s went down by the odd goal in five in their Premier League Two fixture at the Royals' Bearwood Park training ground on Friday - both sides ending the game with 10 men.

Clad in their yellow change kit, United took an 18th minute lead when Elliot Anderson looped a header in from Stan Flaherty. The hosts replied on 29 minutes, Ryan East sending Dan Langley the wrong way from the penalty spot after Ludwig Francillette had upended an opponent.

Reading then went ahead in the 43rd minute, Ugandan international Jayden Onen curling home a right-footed effort from inside the area.

The hosts were left a man short on 53 minutes, when Nelson Abbey was dismissed following his second yellow card.

Both sides then struck the woodwork before the Royals extended their lead in the 78th minute. Langley blocked Onen's shot, but was helpless to prevent Nahum Melvin-Lambert firing into the roof of the net when the ball ran free.

United pulled one back two minutes from the end of normal time, Brad Cross grabbing his first goal for the club with a close range shot (it was wrongly credited to both Elliot Anderson or Rodrigo Vilca on social media at the time).

A busy afternoon for referee Tom Bishop continued with a second booking and consequent dismissal for trialist Scott Wara, who tussled with an opponent in the Reading area immediately following Cross's goal.