Wrexham Advances to EFL Cup Fourth Round with Victory Over Reading
Nathan Broadhead scored his first goals for Wrexham, leading them to a 2-0 victory over Reading at the Stok Cae Ras and securing their place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 1977.
After a lackluster first half, Phil Parkinson's team showed significant improvement following the break. They took the lead when Championship club's record signing, Broadhead, struck the ball into the net from 15 yards out, beating goalkeeper Jack Stevens.
The 27-year-old forward quickly doubled his tally with a header, solidifying Wrexham's position in the last 16 at the expense of their League One opponents.
Reading appeared more threatening in the initial stages, with Mark O'Mahony coming close on two occasions, and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan's powerful shot tested Callum Burton, marking his first appearance since December.
Former Reading player Sam Smith, who transferred to Wrexham in January, had two shots blocked in quick succession and was subsequently denied by Stevens after connecting with Broadhead's lofted pass, indicating a shift in momentum for the hosts.
Despite both teams struggling to create clear chances, Reading's Kamari Doyle nearly broke the deadlock with a shot that grazed Burton's near post shortly after Smith's header was saved.
Having made ten changes from their 3-2 victory over Norwich City, Wrexham initially struggled to find their form, while Noel Hunt's Reading, with nine alterations of their own, showed commendable resilience.
Both teams had managed only one clean sheet this season, making the lack of goals at the Stok Cae Ras unexpected.
However, Wrexham improved significantly after the interval and took the lead just before the hour mark. A blocked shot from Elliot Lee fell to Broadhead, who found the far corner of the net, marking his first goal for the club and ensuring Wrexham's record of scoring in every match this season remained intact.
In response, Reading's Hunt made four substitutions, bringing on Liam Fraser, Lewis Wing, Paddy Lane, and Tivonge Rushesha.
But Broadhead again proved pivotal, meeting Ryan Barnett's cross with a header that hit the crossbar and just crossed the line, leaving Reading with a difficult task ahead.
Lewis Brunt nearly made it 3-0 with a close-range header, while Burton remained vigilant, saving a free-kick from Wing at the other end.
Substitute Ryan Hardie came close to adding a third for Wrexham but was thwarted by some last-minute defending. Nonetheless, Wrexham maintained their second clean sheet of the season, achieving back-to-back victories following their win over Norwich.