A second-half brace from Liam Kelly safely moved Reading into the second round of the League Cup and handed Royals their first win of the season at in their first game at Madejski Stadium.
After a relatively uneventful first half, a brilliant long range effort and a smart finish from inside the box from the Irish youngster secured the win over League One Gillingham. The victory made sure Royals will be in the hat for the second round draw on Thursday night.
Royals, looking to bounce back from a disappointing opening day away defeat to QPR, looked in control early on with the lion’s share of possession, but it was Gillingham who produced the first effort when Jake Hessenthaler, played in by Tom Eaves blazed over from just outside the box.
Scott Wagstaff also registered an attempt at goal for the visitors after tamely shooting at Anssi Jaakkola after cutting in from the right flank.
Reading came close through lively 20-year-old Andy Rinomhota who fired just wide of Thomas Holy’s far post following Josh Barrett’s pass from 20 yards.
Gills forward Eaves then managed to meet Max Emner’s looping cross from the right but his header lacked power and was straight at the Royals keeper.
On 30 minutes Liam Kelly whipped in a good cross towards an unmarked Sam Smith who headed well wide while Liam Moore went to ground but referee Brett Huxtable waved away the penalty claims.
Darren Oldaker missed wide to the right with a speculative 30-yard free-kick for Gillingham as half-time approached as Barrett too fired wide for the hosts with Chris Gunter free down the right and perhaps offering a better option.
On the stroke of half-time Royals defender Liam Moore ventured forward and drove a shot on target but it was blocked out to safety as the teams headed into the break with the game yet to see a goal.
Jaap Stam replaced forward Josef Mendes at half-time with new signing Modou Barrow and it was former Swansea man who looked dangerous early on after the restart on his home debut. The Gambian eased past his marker but struck over.
Down the other end, Gills came very close to moving in front as Eaves drilled it towards goal after Royals failed to clear but Jaakkola made a fantastic stop to deny the Gillingham striker.
As the game began to open up Kelly burst through before shooting over and moments later the young Irishman floated in a corner which was powerfully met by Moore but unfortunately for Royals, his attempt was too close to Holy between the sticks.
The deadlock was finally broken on 71 minutes when Liam Kelly received the ball from Pelle Clement and thundered home from the edge of the box leaving Holy no chance of saving it.
Immediately after Clement curled a shot which prompted Holy to hastily get down to his left to palm away as Royals looked to kill the game. He was at it again minutes later, coming in from the right but this time placing a left-footed effort just wide.
Liam Kelly doubled Royals’ lead five minutes from time when Barrow fed him inside the box and he lashed home for his second of the night to seal the win.
Reading: Jaakkola, Gunter (c), Moore, Evans, Mendes (Barrow 45), Clement, Kelly, Barrett (Quinn 58), Rinomhota, Richards (Andresson 63), Smith.
Subs not used: East, Legg, Frost, Loader.
Goals: Kelly (71).
Gillingham: Holy, O’Neill, Ehmer, Wagstaff, Hessenthaler (Chapman 78), Eaves (Nash 74), Ogilvie, Parker, Oldaker, Cundle (Wilkinson 69), Wright.
Subs not used: List, O’Mara, Hadler, Byrne.
Yellow Cards: Cundle (39)
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Attendance: 5,936
