QPR's Reserves lost 3-0 to Reading in a behind-closed-doors friendly fixture at the Royals' training ground this afternoon.

Encouragingly for the R's, striker Angelo Balanta came through 90 minutes of action as he bids to improve his match sharpness in a season which has seen him struggle with injury.

The hosts took the lead after ten minutes with a header at the far post following a deep corner, and they doubled their advantage just before the break.

A mix up between Lee Brown and Joe Oastler at the back allowed the Royals striker to nip in and slam home past Elvijs Putnins.

The final goal of the match arrived in the 85th minute with a tap-in at the far post following good work down the left wing by Reading.

Although disappointed with the result, Keith Ryan was able to draw on the positives to come from the game when he spoke with www.qpr.co.uk moments after the final whistle.

"The result was disappointing, it always is when you lose," he said, "but it was great to see Hogan Ephraim play 65 minutes and Angelo Balanta get a full match under his belt.

"At the time we arranged the game, we also had Rowan Vine and Lee Cook in mind.

"It was our intention to give them some match minutes today as well, but obviously they returned to the First Team on Saturday against Scunthorpe.

"It was a great exercise for Hogan and Angleo. It also provided an excellent learning curve for some of our younger players, because they came up against a strong Reading team."

QPR Reserves: Putnins, Volz (Davenport, 85), Harris, Brown, Trialist, Oastler, Balanta, Davenport (Trialist, 55), Rose (Trialist, 80), German, Ephraim (Waters, 65).

Unused subs: Ehmer, McWeeney, Parmenter.