Swindon Town exited the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, after a youthful Town side was defeated 5-0 by League One side Reading FC at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Reading's Harvey Knibbs scored a hat-trick whilst late goals from Paul Mukairu and Harlee Dean sealed the cup victory for the Royals.
Michael Flynn made a number of changes with the likes of Tariq Uwake, Lewis Ward, Brooklyn Genesini, Harrison Minturn and George McEachran starting this evening.
However, it was more of an evening for the youngsters with 10 current Town academy players involved in the matchday squad.
The first chance came 11 minutes in when Lewis Ward was called into action against his former club, with Reading skipper Andy Yiadom finding space on the right-hand side and firing goalwards, but forced an outstretched foot from Ward to deny him inside the Swindon penalty area.
Despite this, eight minutes later, Reading would take the lead with Knibbs getting his first of the game.
Nesta Guinness-Walker crossed into the box from the left, but it was an unfortunate moment for the Swindon defence, as the clearance fell straight into the path of the threatening Knibbs, who found the back of the net from close range.
Town did respond after falling a goal behind with a threatening move down the left-hand side themselves 10 minutes later, with skipper for the evening George McEachran finding Tyrese Shade, who created space but could only guide his whipped effort just over the Reading crossbar.
However, Reading made it two just before the half-time break, with Knibbs getting his second of the game with a well-taken finish with Town looking for a response in the second half.
Half-time: Reading 2-0 Swindon
Despite the optimism, Reading made it three shortly after the restart as Knibbs got his third from the penalty spot with Swindon's young side looking to finish positively for the remaining 30 minutes.
A number of long-distance efforts came in from Swindon, with debutants George Alston, 16-year-old Harry Gray and Brooklyn Genesini all aiming to get on the scoresheet before the night's end.
Unfortunately, none of the efforts were testing for Reading's No.1 David Button, (who was introduced just before kick-off following an injury to Coniah Boyce-Clarke in the warm-up.
Shade again looked to get on the scoresheet too, with a direct free-kick looking to test Button but the former Brighton and Brentford keeper held his effort.
Reading found their fourth and fifth within the eight minutes of time added on, as Paul Mukairu and late substitute Harlee Dean found the back of the net from close range, with Town exiting the EFL Trophy following results elsewhere in the group too.
Upon reflection of the game, although the result was a disappointing one, it became a positive evening overall from an experience and fitness perspective.
With six academy players making their first-team debuts, players like Miles Obodo and Anton Dworzak continuing their development within first-team football and regular first-team players in the side getting more match minutes ahead of this weekend's home league fixture against Newport County too.
Reading FC: Button (Norcott 88), Mola (Stickland 88), Holmes (Dean 67), Knibbs (Azeez 56), Mukairu, Yiadom (C), Guinness-Walker, Wareham, Craig (Wing 88), Rushesha, Vickers
Goals: Knibbs (19, 45+2, 49), Mukairu (90+4), Dean (90+6).
Subs not used: Carson, Ehibhatiomhan
Swindon Town: L.Ward, McEachran © (Gray 56), Genesini (Keyes 86), Uwakwe, Kinsella, Dworzak (Hubbard 79), Shade (Hutt 79), Minturn, Obodo, Adams (Alston 45), Hart
Subs not used: Fox, Evans
