NEWPORT County AFC can focus 100 per cent on the league after three late goals from Reading ended their interest in this season’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy at the group stage.
Nelson Jardim’s men were always up against it at the home of the League One promotion hopefuls, and they were under the cosh for large parts of the match – facing 27 shots in total.
They produced a creditable defensive display and were 17 minutes from forcing the winner-takes-all tie to be settled by penalties.
But Royals substitute Harvey Knibbs showed his quality to ease his side through to the second round of the tournament with two late strikes, either side of another by Jayden Wareham.
After also exiting the Carabao Cup and FA Cup at the first hurdle, this will be a rare season without an extended run of knockout football to excite the fans and swell the coffers for the Exiles.
But head coach Nelson Jardim will probably be reasonably happy to concentrate on climbing the League Two table, starting with Saturday’s home clash with Grimsby Town.
Jardim hinted at his priorities by making seven changes from the weekend defeat to Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park, but it was still a strong looking starting XI with Shane McLoughlin making his first start since September 7 after recovering from injury and Courtney Baker-Richardson recalled to lead the line up front.
Goalkeeper Nick Townsend has turned down an international call-up by Antigua & Barbuda to remain with the Exiles this week, but youngster Jacob Carney was given another chance to impress between the sticks.
Joe Thomas started at right-back, while Kyle Jameson remained at centre-back despite his red card on Saturday – his suspension starts with the Grimsby clash.
Kai Whitmore and Kieron Evans came into the midfield three alongside captain Aaron Wildig, while Oliver Greaves joined Baker-Richardson and Bobby Kamwa up front.
As well as Townsend, Ciaran Brennan, Cameron Evans, Bryn Morris, Jamie Miley, Michael Spellman and Kyle Hudlin also dropped out of the starting XI.
Reading boss Ruben Selles also shuffled his pack, making six changes to the side that drew with Stevenage in League One on Saturday.
Carney, who has endured a difficult beginning to his County career, almost suffered a nightmare start at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Reading’s Lewis Wing unleashed a shock half-volleyed effort from near the halfway line that was dipping in before the Exiles stopper stretched out a hand to prevent a spectacular start to the contest.
The hosts then hit the post through Ben Elliott after Jameson lost the ball trying to play out from the back and Wing had another shot blocked as his side dominated the early stages.
County threatened occasionally, however, and Kamwa curled a free-kick just wide before Whitmore saw a shot blocked.
Ans a poor headed back-pass from Amadou Mbengue then allowed Baker-Richardson to advance through on goal, but he was beaten to the ball by on-rushing goalkeeper David Button.
It was the Royals who finished the first half on top though, with the dangerous Wing firing straight at Carney from just outside the area before Wareham dragged his shot past the post and Adrian Akande curled an effort wide from 15 yards.
And only some heroic defending from the Exiles prevented the home side from breaking the deadlock in the final minute of the first half as Elliott’s shot was blocked by Thomas, before Matt Baker somehow diverted Wareham’s follow-up over the bar.
The second half looked as if it would continue in much the same way as Wareham saw a left footed shot from outside the box saved by Carney in the first minute after the restart.
But Jardim’s men then enjoyed their best spell of the match with Greaves having a shot blocked and James Clarke, on for Jameson for the second half, heading over the bar from close range following a clever corner routine.
That wouldn’t have counted as the flag was up, but Baker-Richardson troubled Button soon afterwards with a side-footed effort that was spilled by the goalkeeper before he gathered at the second attempt.
Normal service was then resumed at the other end of the pitch and Baker almost diverted an Akande cross into his own net and Mamadi Camará bundled the ball in with his hand – an offence thankfully spotted by the officials.
There was one more chance for County as substitute Cameron Antwi almost scored with his first touch, but Button got down well to his right to deny the midfielder.
The visitors might have been starting to think about a potential penalty shootout, but the relentless Reading pressure eventually told in the 73rd minute thanks to a touch of class from substitute Knibbs.
Wareham and Wing combined to tee him up and Knibbs expertly brought down the chipped throughball before firing confidently into the top corner.
With the dam finally broken, Reading sealed the win with a second two minute later as Wareham volleyed in from close range from Chem Campbell’s cross.
Carney then saved from Campbell at his near post before Knibbs headed in his second and the home side’s third three minutes from time.
County (4-3-3): J Carney; J Thomas (B Morris, 76), M Baker, K Jameson (J Clarke, 46), S McLoughlin (C Evans, 63); K Whitmore (C Antwi, 63), A Wildig (M Spellman, 76), K Evans; O Greaves, C Baker-Richardson, B Kamwa
Substitutes not used: N Townsend, L Jephcott
Referee: S Mulhall
Attendance: 1,870
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