Nathan Broadhead fires Wrexham into fourth round

Nathan Broadhead inspired Wrexham to a 2-0 victory over League One Reading to take them into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Reading had a proven track record of beating Championship opposition on the way to the third round with a win over Portsmouth in the first round.

However, Wrexham showed their superiority with Broadhead able to net a devastating brace to secure their place in the next round.

Just before the 10th minute, Reading’s Mark O’Mahony found space just outside the box and tried his luck from distance but his effort went wide.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan gathered the ball just inside the area minutes later and beat his marker before drilling a low, hard shot across goal, but Callum Burton dealt with it.

Sam Smith did brilliantly to bring down a lobbed pass inside the box in the 25th minute and hold off his defender before releasing a powerful shot, but Jack Stevens kept it out.

With just five minutes remaining of the first half, Broadhead stood up a delightful floated cross into the heart of the box which Smith rose highest to meet, but his headed effort was saved.

On the verge of half-time, the visitors’ Kamari Doyle managed to get a shot away from a tight angle but rattled the outside of the post with a thunderous strike.

The north Wales side were applying pressure to the Reading backline on the hour mark. The Red Dragons’ perseverance paid off, with Broadhead smartly winning the ball in the box before curling a beautiful shot into the far corner.

Elliot Lee tried his luck from distance with just over 20 minutes remaining, but his effort had too much on it and Stevens managed to deal with it easily.

Minutes later Broadhead had his second of the evening, with Ryan Barnett whipping a cross into the middle of the box where the Wales international leapt to meet it and bundle in from close range.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Smith rose highest to get on the end of a fabulous free-kick and drove his headed effort towards goal but did not trouble Stevens.

After going two goals down, Reading managed to find a bit of rhythm in the final 10 minutes and O’Mahony found space to get a shot away from just outside the box, but his effort was blocked by a Wrexham defender.

Moments later, Lewis Wing sent in a curling free-kick from just outside the area. However, Burton managed to get down in time to deal with the effort.

Late on, Ryan Hardie could have made it three after taking the ball around the goalkeeper, but Matty Jacobs made a last-ditch block.