Newport County missed out on a place in the EFL Trophy last 32 after falling to a late 3-0 defeat at Reading.

A pleasingly adventurous opening saw both sides go close, with Reading’s Ben Elliot seeing an early effort rebound off the woodwork, while a free-kick from Newport’s Bobby Kamwa sailed just wide.

Courtney Baker-Richardson nearly made the Royals pay for a sloppy back-pass but goalkeeper David Button was alert to snuff out the danger.

Mamadi Camara had the ball in the back of the net for Reading after the break but his effort was ruled out for offside.

But with time running out Reading scored two quick-fire goals as Harvey Knibbs broke the deadlock on 73 minutes, before Jayden Wareham struck two minutes later.

Knibbs still had time to grab his second to send the Royals through alongside Southern Group H winners Cheltenham Town.