Slimbridge’s failure to convert a string of chances resulted in their exit from the Emirates FA Cup at the Extra-Preliminary Round stage against a strong Reading City side who converted three of their five on target efforts at a wind and rain buffeted Thornhill Park to claim the victory.

After Tyler D’Cruz had given the visitors the lead, Slimbridge immediately hit back with George Neill notching the equaliser. Rudi McKinnon gave the Swans the lead just before the hour mark, but an inspired Reading substitution saw Tyler Robinson claim a brace in three minutes ten minutes from time to win the tie for Reading. 

As on Tuesday against Highworth, Slimbridge started well and were immediately creating opportunities – Rudi McKinnon was close on seven minutes after good work by Ben Hands, Sam Blackie saw his effort saved by Reading Keeper Tom Baldwin two minutes later after a neat 1-2 with Dale Evans, and George Neill was off target after Marley Thomas provided a great assist on the wing. 

It took 22 minutes for Reading to register their first effort, when D’Cruz’s effort was deflected over, but six minutes later, the visitors were ahead – a cross from the left found D’Cruz in space as it cleared Ben Prictor, and he toe-poked it home past Ellis Parker.

Slimbridge went straight down the other end and equalised, after Marley Thomas created space for himself on the Swans right,  and drilled a cross into the Reading box for Neill to convert.

The Swans continued to press and create chances but not get the end result – McKinnon had a shot saved after good work from Hands, and a lovely move just before the break involving Evans and Blackie saw Neill’s effort again saved, leaving the teams even at the break. 

The second half started in the same vein as the first – Thomas’ cross saw McKinnon miskick when well placed a couple of minutes in, but Reading started to get themselves more into the game. 

A well worked free kick five minutes into the second period saw Dan Ware’s cross-cum-shot come back into play off the Slimbridge crossbar, and chances started to be created at both ends. 

Ware had a good opportunity spurned when he was too high for Reading, while McKinnon was again off target when put through for the Swans. 

On 57 minutes, the move of the game saw Neill win his battle with a Reading defender on the Swans’ right flank, before laying the ball off to Sam Blackie. Blackie resisted the opportunity to shoot, laying the ball instead into the path of McKinnon, who drilled the ball past Baldwin to give the home side the lead. 

Still the chances came for Slimbridge – Thomas brought a good save from Baldwin with a goal bound effort, before Edji Mbunga’s effort was deflected over for a Slimbridge corner which came to nothing. 

With ten minutes remaining, Reading turned the game on its head – Substitute Robinson converted a cross from Joshua Baines to level things up, and three minutes later, smashed a shot past Parker after a Reading break as the Swans pressed forward. 

There was still time for Baldwin to make a good save from a Marley Thomas effort, and another from Will Hawes, while Parker was called into action at the other end, stopping an effort from Eddie Lee, but the missed chances ultimately cost the Swans dearly. 

Reflecting on the result, Joint Manager Tom Deakin said ‘I wouldn’t have said it was a difficult game, but it was a difficult result. I felt for the most part of the game we were the most creative side, the most attacking side. For the majority of the game we had the better of it, we had the better chances, but it’s all about taking your chances and winning the game.

Realistically, and we said this at half time, we should have been three-nil up in the first fifteen minutes – we had three good proper chances. Then they took their chance very well, and then we got the goal back immediately.

In the second half, we’ve gone in front, but then we haven’t killed it off. 

It’s frustrating, because when you look at it, it’s two late goals that we’ve said this year we can’t let happen. It’s now down to us to show we’re learning from it, and not make those mistake in future weeks.’ 

As a result of Thornbury Town drawing their FA Cup tie with Bishops Cleeve on Friday night, and requiring a replay, Thornbury’s scheduled visit to Thornhill Park on Tuesday has been postponed . A new date for the game will be announced in due course. 

Team: Parker, Turner, Prictor (Jaggers 83) Hands (Hawes 83), Dennis, Hitchings, McKinnon (Mbunga 67), Evans, Neill, Blackie, Thomas

Goalscorers: Neill 29, McKinnon 57

Supporters Man Of The Match: George Neill