With 2 promotion spots up for grabs in the league to win a place in the top tier of women's football, both sides are well on course to achieve that with just a handful of games left well clear of 3rd placed Yeovil Town Ladies and 4th placed Everton Ladies, although the latter does have games in hand following earlier season postponements with 2 against the promotion chasing pair they may yet have a say on where the title goes.
Reading FC Women on 32 points after 13 matches played are the leagues top scorers with 47 goals so far have continued scoring plenty of goals following the departure of talisman Fran Kirby to Chelsea Ladies. Emma Follis having joined the club from Aston Villa Ladies at the start of the season is the current top scorer on 13 goals with a good spread of scorers throughout the side. Have lost just once in the league this season. This is the clubs last home league match of the season, after this it's 4 away trips and they will want to finish at home on a high by taking 3 points off Doncaster Rovers Belles for the 2nd time this season.
One loss in the league all season too for Doncaster Rovers Belles that defeat a 3-0 loss at home to Reading FC Women. Since then haven't dropped a single point in the league winning 6 in a row know that a 7th straight win will put them in a commanding position at the top of the table. Have a striker in Courtney Sweetman-Kirk that has been in irresistible form this season. Manager Glenn Harris has brought in two shrewd acquisitions to bolster the squad in the latter half of the campaign midfielders Jade Lorton-Radburn and Emily Simpkins both adding different demensions to the side.
Was a rare occasion when I don't get held up anywhere on the way to a WSL match and having allowed for the usual trouble didn't get any arriving at Farnborough FC a whole 2 hours before the game (I wouldn't be so lucky on the way home.) Was hungry, no surprise there, Reading must have known cause they gave me a bib to wear... cheeseburger and chips later all set for the match. Reading have worked hard to make the Farnborough Ground feel like their home, the mens side playing earlier in the day where hoping a few would stick around to see the women play on a pleasant September evening.
Reading FC Women starting XI - Grace Moloney, Rebecca Jane, Harriet Scott, Kirsty McGee (C), Kylie Davies, Laura-May Walkley, Bianca Bragg, Rachel Rowe, Emma Follis, Nikki Watts & Helen Ward.
subs - Georgie Giddings, Molly Bartrip, Charlie Estcourt, Eloise Wilson, Melissa Fletcher, Nia Jones & Chloe Sampson.
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Hope Knight, Sophie Barker, Rhiannon Roberts, Leandra Little (C), Kasia Lipka, Jade Lorton-Radburn, Emily Simpkins, Bethany England, Sue Smith & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.
subs - Lyndsey Cunningham, Samantha Tierney, Molly Johnson, Emily Roberts, Sophie Stamp, Nicole Dale & Lauren Cresswell.
Reading to kick off the match wearing blue and white hooped shirts, blue shorts and white socks, were with out a few 1st team regulars with Lois Roche suspended and Bonnie Horwood and Lauren Bruton unavailable. Doncaster lined up opposite wearing yellow shirts and socks with blue shorts had made a couple a changes with Sophie Barker and Hope Knight playing at in the full back positions right and left.
Reading begin on the offensive looking to spray the ball out into the right channel for Emma Follis to chase after, Nicola Hobbs in the Doncaster goal is out quickly to come and kick the ball into the stands. It isn't long before Doncaster mount an attack winning a throw deep inside the Reading half, Sue Smith takes putting the ball into Bethany England, controls with her chest then slides the pass back to Smith as she makes the run down the line, cuts the cross back on the angle to the corner of the box with England making the run, on the drive takes the ball in her stride right of goal gets her strike away sends the shot over the bar.
Doncaster's Jade Lorton-Radburn wins the ball back in the middle of the park Courtney Sweetman-Kirk is making a move peeling off into space on the left side of the field in front of her picks her out with the pass allows her to get her head down take the ball on drive towards the box, is stopped by Reading captain Kirsty McGee who comes across, slides in to make the tackle clear the threat.
A cagey opening both sides getting the ball up to their attackers quickly, both looking eager to score an early goal. Reading's Rachel Rowe takes the ball out to the left of the pitch pushing up the wing sends the cross into the area where Bianca Bragg has made the run to join the attack chests the ball down shoots, the ball is blocked by Lorton-Radburn.
England is the player operating furthest forwards by Doncaster early on in a slight positional change by Glen Harris and she is causing the Reading back line a few problems with her movement across the final 3rd, has a chance to strike for goal as Smith is sent away down the left plays the ball into England's path 20 yards out, hits the shot 1st time, again McGee is there to block the shot.
Reading have everyone back to win the ball back, it's Helen Ward who wins the ball off England inside their final 3rd sets up a counter attack passing the ball into Bragg in the centre of midfield, she looks to send Nikki Watts away with a high ball over the top of the Doncaster defence, Hobbs is 1st to it gathering before Watts can latch onto the ball. Watts has an opportunity to take a shot on from 25 yards out can only pick out Hobbs in the Doncaster goal.
England is fouled 22 yards out from goal wide on the right side for Doncaster, both Smith and Kasia Lipka are over the ball, it's Lipka to take a short ball into Sophie Barker in a central position on the edge of the Reading box, her pass is cut out and cleared but only as far as Emily Simpkins 25 yards out she takes on the shot a low drive put wide of the post.
Bragg is playing some great balls out of the middle of the park into Reading's attackers, passing into Watts who lays it out to the left for Ward to get hold of, the cross is sent in deep towards the far post, Reading keep it in play the ball dropping into the area two shots are blocked in quick succession from both Bragg and I think Follis.
GOAL! Midway through the 1st half and Doncaster are the side to make the break through, both sides are giving away free kicks in the centre of the pitch, this one goes the visitors way. Smith is over it in front of the centre circle inside the Reading half. Looks to flight the ball into the box towards right of goal, has Doncaster captain Leandra Little making the run the timing is perfect on the run Little meets the ball with her head sending it back across Grace Moloney in the Reading goal and into the back of the net 1-0.
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| Leandra Little celebrates with Bethany England & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk after scoring Donaster's opening goal |
Reading have appeals for a penalty turned down as they break the ball played forwards into the area by Watts for Follis to chase right side of the box, Hobbs is a across to dive in front of her to claim the ball, Follis goes over her but nothing doing.
England continues to be a threat for Doncaster moving right and left looking to pick up the ball and run at the Reading defence is put in down the left looks to take Davies on as she comes across to challenge her inside the box, the Welsh international with an assured tackle to win the ball. Another Doncaster attack Smith on the ball 30 yards out central pops the ball over the Reading defence Simpkins has made her way up to get into the area meets the ball the volley hitting in across the goal, is narrowly over. Lipka is encouraged to take on the shot 35 yards out as Reading back off her the attempt is a yard over the cross bar.
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| Reading's Helen Ward pulls it back to 1-1 |
GOAL! It's the move Reading have looked to produce most often that brings them the equalising goal. Bragg on the ball in the middle is looking for the diagonal ball wide out to the wing, right this time has Watts making the move to get onto the ball takes it into the corner before getting her cross away sending a great ball into the box, Hobbs has been drawn to her near post, the ball flies over her comes to Ward in the centre of goal who knocks the ball down with head into the net to make it 1-1 with 35 minutes played.
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| A minute later Bethany England restores the lead |
GOAL! Barely over a minute later and Doncaster restore their lead. The visitors win a free kick wide on the half way line. It's Rhiannon Roberts to take plays a speculative ball in towards the edge of the area Smith her back to goal gets her head to it knocks it down to her right picking out Simpkins, she smashes her 1st time strike into a defender the ball flies out of the area, Doncaster retrieve it and before Reading can clear their box, the cross is sent back in from the right, England is clear of everyone as she nods the ball past Moloney and into the net 1-2.
The Reading fans and players alike are incensed their fury is towards the linesman on this side claim England was offside all the protests get no where the goal stands Reading have to restart the match. Rowe gets hold of the ball pushes into the Doncaster half Ward is making the run on the left in front of her Rowe plays the pass, Roberts with a vital interception or Ward would have been free to run on goal.
A late chance for Doncaster to extend their lead as full back Harriet Scott's pass back to her defence is heavy, Sweetman-Kirk is on their shoulders and alert springs into action getting hold of the ball she looks to put the ball over Moloney's head not high enough though as the keeper throws her hands up to pluck the ball down.
Half time Reading FC Women 1-2 Doncaster Rovers Belles
An energetic and fast paced 1st half that has seen Doncaster produce plenty of goal scoring opportunities their pace and movement more fluid up top than Reading's just the one goal in it though, more of the same I hope as Doncaster kick off the 2nd half.
Positive start from the visitors with Smith on the driving looking to play the through ball into England's run, the Reading defence read it and clear the ball. Smith tries her luck down the right wing, Scott comes across to put in a forceful tackle the deny the cross. At the other end Bragg plays a great ball forwards looking for Follis central mis-controls with her 1st touch allowing Little the chance to get her foot on the ball and clear it.
Simpkins fouls Laura-May Walkley wide on the right 30 yards out. Rebecca Jane to play the ball into the area plenty of players coming looking to meet it, Hobbs isn't distracted keeps her eye on the ball stands firm to put a fist on the ball knock it down to the edge of the area where Knight sweeps it clear.
Reading have started much more offensively 2nd half are the ones taking the ball to Doncaster, Watts gets her head down on the right pushing on before cutting back inside, great pass to play in Bragg she fires the ball into towards goal, Hobbs throws herself to her right however the shot is safely wide.
Walkley wins the ball in the middle and is allowed to run on before taking on the strike 25 yards out the effort is blocked by Roberts the ball spinning into the path of Bragg she tries to place her shot a curling effort looking for the top corner can only pick out Hobbs well placed in her goal.
Both sides make their 1st change with Doncaster bringing of Smith, send on Emily Roberts. Reading bring off Walkley with Molly Bartrip the player coming on. Great footwork from Follis as she attacks right of the box shifts the ball to beat Little take it on into the box looks to lift her shot over Hobb's like Sweetman-Kirk wanted to do with Moloney in the 1st half, same result the keeper equal to it plucks the ball out of the air.
Refereeing decisions continue to upset the home fans but they give ironic cheers as they are awarded a free kick right of the area 25 yards out. Reading make a change before the ball is delivered with Ward coming off for Nia Jones to enter the pitch. Watts is the player to put the ball into the area McGee gets her head to the ball it loops up Hobbs is left unchallenged as she claims the ball.
Total contrast to the 1st half where Doncaster were going forwards at will, are struggling to get anything going in the final third, 2nd half. Sweetman-Kirk does well holding the ball up is fouled with her back to goal outside the box the advantage is played though as Lorton-Radburn latches onto the ball sends in an early cross into the box England is there to meet it looks to turn the ball towards goal with her head places it well wide of goal.
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| Doncaster's Courtney Sweetman-Kirk with Reading's Rachel Rowe |
More good hold up play from Sweetman-Kirk hard to shake off the ball shifts it into the path of England making the run to support her outside the box she takes on the strike blasts the ball wide of goal.
A strong challenge by Scott as she goes in on Simpkins to leave the Doncaster midfielder on the ground in a lot of pain earns her a yellow card, was a long way off but looked a reckless tackle could have been more. Reading make their 3rd change with Rowe coming off for Melissa Fletcher. Simpkins needs lengthy treatment but is able to continue.
Sweetman-Kirk with a burst of place down the right looks to put a lofted cross into the area the target England in the middle, Moloney grabs the ball before the Doncaster attack can get anything on it. Hobbs with another firm punch clearing her area as Reading put a free kick into the box from 40 yards out into injury time.
GOAL! Reading have been threatening all 2nd half and as the game moves into stoppage time. It's great work from substitute Fletcher on the right driving down to the by line looks to take on Knight take the ball into the box plays the ball against the full back but keeps it from going out for a corner gets past her before playing the ball into the box, Bragg is the player who slides onto it 10 yards out right of the goal getting it through a crowded area across Hobbs low into the far side of the net 2-2. Bragg is hurt in the move caught by a last ditch Doncaster challenge but is mobbed by her team mates before the pain has a chance to set in.
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| Bianca Bragg scorer of Reading FC Women's late equaliser |
Simpkins comes off for Doncaster whilst Bragg receives treatment with Sophie Stamp coming on. Plenty of stoppage time to be played well over 10 minutes by the final whistle chance for both sides to score another goal Reading are looking for a 3rd, Watts with the turn and shot from 25 yards out the crowd are on their feet the ball goes the wrong side of the top corner.
Doncaster have 3 late corners in quick succession as Reading head it behind twice before Moloney comes to confidently claim the 3rd at her hear post. Sets up a counter attack Follis is sent through to racing to get to the ball can't reach it before Hobbs kicks it back up the pitch, Folllis is down inside the Doncaster box and in need of treatment carried off the pitch can't continue as Reading finish with 10.
The final whistle blows and in the end the points are shared with Reading scoring late to make it 2-2. No more than their play deserved 2nd half, was most certainly a game of two halves with Doncaster on top for large periods in the 1st half, unable to match that intensity in the 2nd 45 as Reading came at them strongly, a entertaining match good football from both side, don't like criticising the officials but it seems to be a recurring theme in FAWSL matches.
The gap remains 2 points both sides have 4 games left Doncaster know if they take maximum points they will be crowned champions, Reading will chase them all the way know the same from them and both will be playing football in FAWSL 1 next season. Will be seeing Doncaster in action again in midweek as they take on Everton Ladies at the Keepmoat Stadium on Thursday night.
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