Stansfield scores twice as City's second string defeat the Royals

ADAM Stansfield made a strong case for a quick return to the first team as he bagged a superb brace in Exeter City reserves' 2-1 victory over Reading last night.

The City No.9 was back to his sharpest form in his second appearance since recovering from injury to notch two first-half goals.

It also handed manager Paul Tisdale the kind of selection problem he must be grateful for ahead of this weekend's Coca-Cola League One match at Leyton Orient.

With Richard Logan also in good form last night and Ben Watson looking sharp when he came on as a second-half substitute, Tisdale is likely to have a full complement of forwards to choose from soon.

And while the Grecians were caught napping early on in the second half when Reading's James Henry scored, Tisdale would simply have been happy to note the form of his forwards.

Stansfield was the catalyst from the off, showing his pace time and again against an initially ponderous Royals backline, which included Icelandic international Ivar Ingimarsson.

The striker did well to cross for James Dunne in the second minute, before keeper Ben Hamer smothered. He continued to torment the Reading defence, beating Julian Kelly and sending in a delicious cross from the right in the 14th minute, but Logan nodded over.

At the other end, Oscar Jansson — enjoying a quieter time than he did on his debut at Gillingham on Saturday — saved well from Mitchell Bryant after the Reading forward had caught Scot Bennett napping.

Stansfield broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, skinning Reading right-back Daniel Joyce to receive Bertrand Cozic's well weighted ball and passed it through Hamer's legs. His second, four minutes later, was far more fortuitous but no less opportunistic — Stansfield deflecting Joe Burnell's wayward volley past Hamer through a crowded penalty area.

Immediately after half-time the Royals hit back, Henry outpacing Bennett and slotting beyond Jansson, who was clearly struggling with a dead leg suffered in the first half. Tisdale will hope he is fully recovered for Saturday.

The Swedish under-21 international's injury seemed to affect the composure of the home defence, as they let a couple of corners flash across the box shortly after.

But aside from that the hosts seemed comfortable enough against the Championship club's second string and should have extended their lead when Saunders latched onto an inch-perfect through-ball from Dunne only for Hamer to smother.

Reading came closest to an equaliser in the 86th minute, but Henry's fierce free-kick was brilliantly beaten away by Jansson.

And while Tisdale will be delighted with the win, he would have been happier still to see Stansfield having the legs to chase down a through ball from Watson in the last minute, arriving only seconds too late as Hamer denied him his hat-trick.

Exeter City: Oscar Jansson, Jack Furzer (James Berry, 80), Dan Seaborne, Joe Burnell, Scott Bennett, Rob Edwards, Neil Saunders, Bertie Cozic, Adam Stansfield, Richard Logan (Ben Watson 65), James Dunne (Elliott Frear 65)

Reading: Ben Hamer, Dan Joyce, Julian Kelly, Oliver Kelly, Ivar Ingimarsson (Jack Mills), Angus MacDonald, Michail Antonio, Jake Taylor, Mitchell Bryant (Abdulai Baggie), David Mooney, James Henry

Attendance: 407