Reading won their opening home match of the Under-21 campaign, beating Burnley 2-0 at the SCL Stadium in the Professional Development League.

Their first season for more than a decade outside of Category One status, Jahmari Clarke and Basil Tuma ensured the win, while Coniah Boyce-Clarke in net made some outstanding saves to keep a clean sheet.

Bucking a trend set by the first team, in which they have conceded within the opening 10 minutes of every match this season, it was the Royals’ turn to open the scoring early on. Claudio Osorio threaded a delightful ball through the defence for Clarke to slot home into a gaping hole left by the goalkeeper at his near post.

Despite controlling most of the first period, it was the travelling side who fashioned the next effort as Lewis Richardson fired a lofted ball to Joe McGlynn, only for Coniah Boyce-Clarke to claim under pressure from the striker.

Less than 10 minutes later the hosts doubled their lead, 17-year-old Basil Tuma pouncing on some slack keeping to nip in front of Sam Waller and fall over the line into the back of the net.

Burnley fought their way back into the game, Ne-Jai Tucker causing the hosts a whole host of problems in and around the box, but Boyce-Clarke stood firm.

Continuing in similar vein after the break, Noel Hunt’s side had the first chance when a slack pass back toward the Clarets’ keeper was intercepted by Tuma, only for Waller to come out strong and make a big save.

Just five minutes later it was almost 2-1 as Tucker curled a delightful free kick onto the woodwork, leaving Boyce-Clarke helpless.

Right-back Abrefa, a regular first team squad member, picked out Tuma perfectly from a cross down the other end, the forward unable to direct his loopimg header underneath the crossbar on this occasion.

Clear chances were at a premium as the game wore on, substitute Hamid Abdel-Salam coming closest when a lung-busting run from Mamadi Camara found the midfielder, only for Salam to fizz his shot wide of the post.

Andy Farrell’s Clarets, along with the coaching help of former Royal Charlie Adam, peppered Reading and spent most of the final knockings of the game in and around the box, but the hosts stayed strong and saw out a positive first win of the campaign, moving on quickly from last week’s 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United.

Next up is a trip to Coventry City on Tuesday before hosting Sheffield Wednesday the following week.