Wrexham took a break from Championship action to take on Reading in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening.
The league is, of course, the main priority for the Red Dragons this season as they look to navigate the second tier of English football for the first time in 43 years.
But history was also made in the Carabao Cup this season when Wrexham beat Preston North End to advance to the third round of the competition for the first time in the 21st century.
There was no potential for a giant-killing in this round, but victory over Jack Marriott’s Reading would have opened the door for a potentially huge clash in the next stage.
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Phil Parkinson rings changes for Wrexham clash with Reading
As has been a common theme in this competition, Phil Parkinson made wholesale changes to his side.
Harry Ashfield and Aaron James are both injured, meaning there was no room in the squad for either academy talent.
Callum Doyle, following his summer arrival from Manchester City, was the only player to maintain his place in the starting eleven for the meeting with the Royals.
Parkinson has plans for Nathan Broadhead, who was in from the off on September 23, playing just behind Sam Smith.
Elsewhere, after losing his place versus Norwich City last time out, there was a return to the side for club captain James McClean.
While it was very much a second-string eleven for the Welsh side, they were up against League One opposition, and that group of players should have been more than capable of competing.
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Nathan Broadhead stars as Wrexham beat Reading
It was a fairly subdued first 45 with neither side looking that threatening.
A young Reading team were lively and tested Callum Burton once, but they never looked overly threatening despite some solid passing from Charlie Savage.
On the Wrexham front, Sam Smith made a nuisance of himself and worked his socks off as the primary striker.
Behind him, Elliot Lee and Broadhead failed to have the same impact we saw from Josh Windass against Norwich.
It wasn’t a bad first half, but, as expected with so many changes, Wrexham were not at their very best.
Wrexham began the second 45 somewhat lethargically but found the breakthrough in the 57th minute.
Lee’s attempted shot took a deflection and bounced back into the path of Broadhead, who curled his effort past the Reading keeper.
Wrexham did well to keep the pressure on after going 1-0 up and were rewarded.
After criticism from fans in the first half, Broadhead firmly answered any doubters when he rose highest to head home a Barnett cross to make it 2-0 with just under 20 minutes to go.
Ryan Hardie should have made it 3-0 in the 89th minute after taking it past the keeper, but a Reading defender blocked his shot.
Wrexham are now in the fourth-round draw for the first time in decades and, for just the second time this season, kept a clean sheet.
Wrexham player ratings vs Reading
Burton 7/10, McClean 7/10, Doyle 6/10, Scarr 6/10, Brunt 7/10, Barnett 7/10, Thomason 7/10, James 6/10, Lee 6/10, Broadhead 9/10, Smith 7/10
Subs: Longman 5/10, O’Brien 5/10, George Dobson 5/10, Max Cleworth 4/10, Ryan Hardie 3/10.