EBBSFLEET United gave a competitive performance against a Reading XI last night at Stonebridge Road in a 3-2 loss to the Premier League outfit.

Manager Liam Daish filled his squad with trialists who were eager to impress, but it was a sombre opening 15 minutes with neither side taking control.

However, on the quarter hour mark Reading broke the deadlock with captain Jake Taylor heading home a corner.

Enjoying the majority of possession, Reading spilt the Fleet’s defence and Brett Williams was through one-on-one with Preston Edwards but the keeper stood big and denied the striker.

Just three minutes later Reading were denied again when Taylor’s header grazed the bar.

Against the run of play, the home side found an equaliser when the skilful Ben Greenhalgh saw his shot saved and Moses Ashikodi pounced on the rebound to level the scores.

The second half saw the game get away from Ebbsfleet quickly when Jordan Obita fired past Edwards from the edge of the box after 53 minutes and then Williams latched onto Nick Arnold’s cross to make it 3-1 five minutes later.

But within two minutes Fleet clawed their way back into the game with a stunning strike by Tom Phipp.

Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal, Phipp caught the strike sweetly and it swerved past the Royals keeper.

Ebbsfleet finished the game searching for an equaliser but the visitors managed to hold on for a hard fought win.

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Ebbsfleet: Edwards, Stone, Blake (Howe 74), Winn (Barrett 45), Ada, Lorraine (Walsh 45), Greenhalgh (Makofo 79), Hudson (Bellamy 64), Elder (Akinde 84), Ashikodi (Williams 74), Phipp (Azeez 64). Subs not used: McNeill, Wilson. Att: 537.