Memorial Stadium Tuesday, July 26th, 2011   1st Team Friendly Attendance: 3,309       Bristol Rovers 1-2 Reading
2011 /12

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ROVERS LOSE TO READING Tue 26 Jul 2011 Bristol Rovers 1 Kuffour (3) Reading 2 Kanu (63), Obita (80) Paul Buckle's side faced their sternest test to date, but were by no means disgraced as they lost by the odd goal in three to Championship side Reading at the Memorial Stadium tonight. Rovers were much the better side in the first half and Reading found it difficult to counter their pace on the flanks. Reading, though, were the stronger side in the second half and scored twice through Hal Robson Kanu and Jordan Obita. Rovers, who trained this morning, tired a little as the half wore on but did enough to suggest that they will be a force to be reckoned with when the season starts in earnest. Rovers were quickly into their stride and took the lead after only three minutes. Mustapha Carayol cut in from the left and fed Jo Kuffour and the striker drilled the ball past his former team mate Mikkel Andersen from six yards. Kuffour might have added a second but after latching on to as long clearance from Adam Virgo his second touch let him down and the ball rolled through to Andersen. Carayol was tormenting the Reading defence down the left and saw a shot deflected behind for a corner. Joe Anyinsah was replaced by Chris Zebroski on 12 minutes, and almost immediately the former Torquay man was on the offensive, seeing his close range header from a Chris Lines cross cleared off the line. Reading threatened for the first time on the 15 minute mark, but Scott Bevan got down low to touch an angled drive from Mathieh Manset behind for a corner. Brian Howard then hit a stunning volley towards goal, which took a deflection off Lee Brown and flew over the bar. With Rovers being forced a little deep, Michail Antonio fired a shot high over the bar.and Zebroski charged down a shot by Howard. A good break by Rovers on 27 minutes saw Lines play a delightful ball inside the full back for Zebroski to run on to and the striker was unlucky to his shot deflected behind. Carayol and Harrold then linked up well and Harrold's shot was deflected behind for another Rovers corner. Moments later the striker swivelled to attempt a close range shot but the ball rolled agonisingly away from him and through to Andersen. Adam Virgo was replaced by Byron Anthony with four minutes of the half remaining and the visitors then went close to an equaliser as Manset's glancing header just cleared the bar. Rovers made two half time substitutions, with Matt Gill replacing Craig Stanley and Scott McGleish on for Jo Kuffour. Chances were few and far between in the opening second half exchanges as the game was played at a slower tempo than the opening period. Antonio fired a shot over the bar before Rovers made a triple substitution, sending on Ben Swallow, Wayne Brown and Eliot Richards in place of Lines, Carayol and Harrold. McGleish then went close for Rovers when Andersen touched his close range header over the bar. A low cross from Richards drifted across the face of goal and was touched behind for a corner as Rovers went in search of a second goal, while at the other end a shot from Antonio drifted just wide of the upright. However the visitors equalised with 63 minutes on the clock when Hal Robson Kanu headed home from close range after a cross from the left. Cian Bolger headed over for Rovers, while at the other end Kanu did the same for Reading at the other end. The visitors scored a hotly disputed goal on 80 minutes. Although Jordan Obita's well struck effort beat Scott Bevan, the assistant referee flagged for offside, but was over ruled by referee Andy Madley. Try as they might Rovers were unable to create another chance and slipped to their first pre season defeat. Bristol Rovers: Scott Bevan, Michael Smith, Adam Virgo (Byron Anthony, 41), Cian Bolger, Lee Brown, Chris Lines (Wayne Brown, 57), Craig Stanley (Matt Gill, 46), Joe Anyinsah (Chris Zebroski, 12), Mustapha Carayol (Ben Swallow, 57), Matt Harrold (Eliot Richards, 57), Jo Kuffour (Scott McGleish, 46) Substitute: Lance Cronin Reading: Mikkel Andersen, Shaun Cummings (Andrew Griffin, 46), Ibrahim Sonko, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Marcus Williams, Jem Karacan (Jay Tabb, 51), Brian Howard, Jobi McAnuff, Michail Antonio, Nicaolas Bignall, Mathieh Manset Substitutes (all used on 64 minutes): Alex Pearce, Mikele Leigterwood, Shane Long, Sean Morrison, Hal Robson Kanu, Ian Harte, Jake Taylor, Jordan Obita Attendance: 3,309 Opposition Fans: 216