Reading 0
Fulham 2 (Volz 8, John 29)

Ibrahima Sonko returned to action as the Royals reserves lost 2-0 against Fulham at Aldershot on Wednesday night.

The centre back appeared as a substitute at the start of the second half and looked as good as new.

He won a series of towering headers and defended with pace and assurance.

It was a well contested game between two sides containing plenty of first team experience, and the scoreline was harsh on the Royals who enjoyed the majority of possession and chances.

Fulham took an early lead with an excellent solo effort from Moritz Volz, and doubled their advantage before the break when Collins John lobbed Adam Federici.

The Royals were well on top throughout the second half and created a number of half chances, but couldn't find their way past American international Kasey Keller in the Cottagers' goal.

Reading: Federici, De La Cruz, Golbourne, Pearce, Halls, Karacan (Sonko ht), Fae, Henry, Convey, Church (Sigurdsson 72), Long
Subs: Andersen, Illugason, Bozanic

Fulham: Keller, Volz, Ashton, Watts, Milson, Omozusi, Murphy, Brown (Moncur 48), Timlin, Kuqi, John
Subs: Brooks-Meade, Hudson-Odoi, Ehui, Goncalves

First half
After an even start, Fulham opened the scoring on eight minutes when right back Moritz Volz netted a fine solo effort, jinking past several challenges and firing high past Adam Federici.

Reading's first sight on goal came on 18 minutes when Ulises De La Cruz did well down the right to find James Henry, whose cross was met by Simon Church's header which flashed wide of the far post.

Henry again crossed for Church five minutes later, with the winger making a surging run onto Jem Karacan's pass to deliver a tantalising cross that a stretching Church could only flick over the bar.

Church then unwittingly blocked a 20-yard strike from Henry as the Royals continued to threaten an equaliser.

But Fulham then doubled the advantage when a long ball from goalkeeper Kasey Keller was flicked on by Shefki Kuqi and strike partner Collins John outpaced the Reading defence to lift a delicate shot over Federici,

An excellent Fulham counter attack produced the next chance after 36 minutes, but Wayne Brown could only curl Michael Timlin's neat lay-off straight into Federici's hands.

Reading continued to control the majority of possession, with Jem Karacan a big influence in midfield and Bobby Convey and Henry threatening on the wings, but Fulham's rearguard stood firm to hold a two goal lead at the interval.

Second half
Ibrahima Sonko appeared as a second half substitute in place of Karacan, with John Halls moving into midfield.

Reading continued to dominate and Henry came close to pulling one back after 50 minutes with a clever cross that took a deflection and spiralled inches wide of Keller's far post.

Another opportunity came on 57 minutes when Scott Golbourne spread the play to Convey, and his low cross picked out Church who fired too high from 12 yards.

On the hour mark a through ball from Convey released Long one on one against Keller, but the Irish striker took too much time and the keeper plucked the ball off his toes.

Reading continued to threaten the Fulham goalmouth without end reward, but Fulham were hardly getting a sniff in the second period as Sonko and co looked solid at the back and Long's pace offered a constant menace.

Long had another half chance midway through the period when he controlled Golbourne's pass perfectly and raced clear of the defence, but centre half Adam Watts recovered well to prevent the shot.

The Royals then had a huge let off when Federici's clearance was charged down by Kuqi and dropped to John. Federici tried to close down the danger but could only trip the striker on the very edge of the area. To Federici's relief, Danny Murphy wastefully curled the resulting free kick a long way wide.

Reading kept pushing and after 74 minutes Emerse Fae controlled well on the left to drift over an excellent cross which took a touch off a Fulham defender and just evaded Long.

Henry's resulting corner dropped to the near post where it was controlled by Convey, who drilled a powerful effort narrowly wide of his compatriot Keller's far post.

With 78 minutes played a powerful run from Fae earned a free kick on the left edge of the box, and Convey's effort deflected off the wall for a corner. That dropped to Henry, whose nice deep cross fell loose to Pearce, but the defender couldn't keep his effort down on the turn.

The game had drifted away from Reading by now, and the last chance came in stoppage time when De La Cruz's cross was nodded down by Long to Convey, whose low right footed shot was well held by Keller.