Reading FC U21s Dumped Out Of EFL Trophy By Yeovil

It just wasn't to be. Reading's youngsters (and fringe players) did a good job in reaching the last-16, ousting the likes of Southampton Under-21s and Portsmouth along the way, but Yeovil ran out 4-2 winners in Tuesday night's knockout tie.

A number of the Royals' starting XI featured those with first-team squad experience; goalkeeper Stuart Moore, Sandro Weiser, Josh Barrett, and captain Dom Hyam. The likes of Tyler Frost, Andy Rinomhota, and Jake Sheppard made up the academy contingent in the side.

It was Liechtenstein international Weiser who turned the match against the visitors from the early stages, receiving a red card after 17 minutes for a heavy tackle before Yeovil led through Otis Khan within ten minutes of that incident. Francois Zoko doubled their lead from inside the area soon after.

However, Martin Kuhl's men gave themselves a chance when young American striker Andrija Novakovich poked in Barrett's free-kick in first-half stoppage time. First-teamer Danzell Gravenberch came on after the hour mark with the game very much end-to-end until the hosts' pushed clear via Omar Sowumni's header.

The game was put to bed with seconds left on the clock by a Sheppard own goal, although Reading had the last laugh thanks to Barrett's last-kick penalty as the final whistle was blown on the club's campaign in the EFL Trophy.

Will it be our last venture in the Checkatrade Trophy, though? That remains to be seen but naturally the players and club will speak positively of the experience, even if critics of the format have been vocal and rather well evidenced. After all, the only U21 side left in the quarter-finals are Swansea City after Brighton and Wolves were also knocked out tonight.