BEN House, Josh Barrett and Tyler Frost grabbed the goals as Reading FC Under 23s secured a comfortable 3-1 victory at Colchester United in their opening Premier League Cup fixture.

Scott Marshall fielded a young side including 16-year-old debutant Oli Pendlebury with first-year scholar Michael Olise on the bench.

Reading took control early on, with Barrett and Josh Nolan forcing saves from Colchester keeper Bailey Vose in the first half.

Anssi Jaakola was rarely troubled in the Reading goal, though he was called into action on one occasion, reacting well to keep out a powerful header from Eoin McKeown.

The Royals were rewarded just before the interval when House struck a fierce, curling effort past Vose, to claim his fifth goal in seven games.

U’s pressed for an equaliser, but Jaakkola made two more fine stops to thwart Andre Hassanally and Ryan Gondoh.

Marshall’s men then snatched two goals in the last 15 minutes to secure the victory.

Barrett made it 2-0 with a crisp drive past the home keeper, then midfielder Frost converted from close range on 89 minutes.

Colchester pulled one back in injury time when Tom McIntyre conceded a penalty and Noah Chilvers beat Jaakkola from the spot.

Colchester United U23: Vose, Akolbire, Kazeem, Cornish, Kensdale, Forino, Gondoh, Chilvers, McKeown, Hasanally, Sims. Subs: Coulter, Randell, Sayer, Hutchinson, Charles.

Reading U23: Jaakkola, Balogun, Medford-Smith, East, Odimayo, McIntyre, Frost, Pendlebury, House, Nolan, Barrett. Subs: Burley, Driscoll, Olise, Howe, Liddle.

l READING FC Under 23s romped to a 5-0 home victory against Oxford United U23s in a friendly at Hogwood Park on Tuesday.

First-teamers Andy Rinomhota and Tom Holmes were in the Reading side who led when Adam Liddle won and converted his own penalty.

Royals added a second thanks to another penalty, Jazz Wallace slotting home after being fouled in the box.

Liddle was at it again soon after with a blistering strike for 3-0 before Michael Olise tapped in for 4-0 from a Moroyin Omolabi assist.

Khalid Simmo rounded off the victory with a fifth after good work by Jack Nolan.

Reading: Driscoll, Howe (Balogun 46), Burley, Holmes (Odimayo 46), Green, Rinomhota (Olise 46), Sidoel (Lawless 62), Wallace (Nolan 46), Rollinson (Simmo 46), Liddle.