DANNY Loader and Ben House were both on the scoresheet as Reading Under 23s defeated Southampton at Madejski Stadium.

The victory on Saturday saw Royals leapfrog the Saints and move up to third in Premier League 2 Division 2.

Scott Marshall’s hosts burst out of the blocks and rattled the woodwork in the third minute when House headed against the bar from a Tyler Frost cross, before Loader’s follow-up was saved by Jack Rose.

Saints went close soon, but Michael Obafemi failed to capitalise on a loose back-past and fired over Liam Driscoll’s bar.

Royals, thought, stepped it up only to be denied by a fine Rose double-save.

The visiting keeper managed to keep our Ryan East’s long-range drive before recovering to deny Loader on the rebound.

However, Southampton’s resistance was broken midway through the second period.

Fit-again Garath McCleary, who played 87 minutes, fed Loader who took one touch before drilling the ball past Rose and into the corner.

House then sealed the win with a close-range finish from a Ramarni Medford-Smith assist following good work from Callum Harriott.

Reading U23s travel to Colchester United U23s in the Premier League Cup this Friday (7pm).

Reading U23: Driscoll, Howe, Medford-Smith, Holmes, McIntyre, East, Frost, McCleary (Nolan 87), Harriott, House, Loader (Barrett 80). Subs not used: Hillson, Osho, Shokunbi.

Southampton U23: Rose, Ramsay, Vokins, Rowthorn (Afolabi 80), O’Driscoll, O’Connor, Barnes (Hamblin 80), Slattery, Obafemi, Smallbone, Johnson (Tella 70). Subs not used: Klarer, Parkes.