Wayne Brown's side kicked off pre-season at Reading's Training Ground earlier, giving plenty of players a good run out against the Championship side.
Playing two teams for forty-five minutes, the U's got their first minutes under their belts for the 2022/23 pre-season campaign, as the hosts came out victorious.
First Half XI: Hornby, Tchamadeu, Chambers, Terry, Clampin (Sayer), Skuse, Chilvers, Newby, Marshall Miranda, Nouble, Sears.
The home side did much of the attacking for the first forty-five minute period, with Sam Hornby forced into an early save, getting across to his left upright quickly to push the ball around the post.
The U's 'keeper was beaten from the resulting corner after a downward header at the back post, but Noah Chilvers was handily positioned to keep out the effort, lifting the ball away from danger on the goal line to keep the scores level.
But the Royals did find the breakthrough from another corner shortly after, with a set piece nodded home after the first fifteen minutes.
It soon became 2-0 with the Royals doubling their advantage from the penalty spot, but chances would come and go for the travelling U's players.
Frank Nouble had a lively game, troubling the defence and creating chances that weren't quite capitalised on from his fellow U's teammates.
The half time whistle brought an end to the first game, with plenty of the side getting a good run out against their opponents.
Second Half XI: George, Kazeem, Smith, Eastman, Coxe, Hannant, Judge, Cooper, Huws, Akinde, Hutchinson.
The second forty-five was a more even affair, althogh Reading missed two guilt-edged chances to further extend their advantage. Missing a penalty and squandering a one-on-one with Shamal George, Paul Ince's side weren't able to breakthrough again, as the U's were being creative at the other end.
A strong performance from Emyr Huws tested the home defence, with his accurate balls to Cooper and Akinde eventually missing the final target.
Nevertheless, it was more minutes in the tank for Wayne Brown's side as they begin the 2022/23 pre-season.
Next up, Brown's side will be heading west to take on Bath in the next match on Wednesday evening.