It was 3rd placed Reading FC Women who had taken points off Sunderland Ladies last weekend with a 1-1 at home that had allowed Doncaster Rovers Belles to close the gap at the top, now it was 2nd versus 3rd as it was Doncaster Rovers Belles turn to travel down to Farnborough FC and try and get a vital 3 points.
Reading FC Women though sitting in 3rd place on 17 points after 9 matches played have been in great form in the league recently with 2 wins and the draw against the league leaders. Doncaster Rovers Belles wouldn't be short on confidence either having scored 12 goals in their last 2 league fixtures against London Bees and Oxford United Women.
My 1st trip to Reading FC Women's home ground at Farnborough FC, another good stadium, excellent facilities, plenty of parking. Seated stands upon 3 sides of the ground with terracing filling the rest around the pitch it was all available to the spectators.
Sunderland Ladies played earlier today with a 3pm kick off at home to Aston Villa Ladies and won 3-1 to extend the lead at the top of the table to 5 points.
Reading FC Women starting XI - Nicky Davies, Rebecca Jane, Kirsty McGee (C), Molly Bartrip, Shelly Cox, Bonnie Horwood, Bianca Bragg, Lois Roche, Lauren Bruton, Harriet Scott & Fran Kirby.
Doncaster Rovers Belles starting XI - Nicola Hobbs, Lyndsey Cunningham, Rhiannon Roberts, Leandra Little (C), Lauren Cresswell, Kasia Lipka, Beth England, Victoria Williams, Jess Sigsworth, Sue Smith & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.
It was the visitors in their away kit of red shirts and socks and black shorts to kick off the match against Reading lined up in their white and blue hooped shirts, blue shorts and white socks.
Doncaster have an early free kick conceded near the half way line a chance for defender Rhiannon Roberts to play a ball into the box, a good delivery the ball drops down on the edge of the penalty box, no player able to get a clean strike away before Reading clear.
It is Doncaster with the early attacking play, Jess Sigsworth with the ball at her feet has a go from distance the ball flying high over the bar. Sue Smith wins a corner of Reading's Molly Bartrip, puts the delivery into towards the near post, Doncaster captain Leandra Little is there gets her head on the ball but again off target and over.
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| Jess Sigsworth on the attack for Doncaster |
Finally Reading get an attack of their own going the ball played out to Fran Kirby on the left, running with the ball cuts back inside and has a strike fom outside the box, Doncaster goalkeeper Nicola Hobbs is there to gather the ball.
Kirby is roaming across the front line making it difficult for Doncaster's defenders to mark, this time Kirby lays the ball off to Lauren Bruton who strikes from distance the shot no trouble for Hobbs. Soon after Bruton is through on goal again, but both Hobbs and Little come to challenge for the ball almost getting in each others way they clear the threat.
Little is booked for a foul on Kirby 30 yards out to the left of the goal, Hobbs sets her wall, and Kirby taking the kick blasts the ball against it the effort blocked.
Sue Smith receives the ball out wide left, comes back inside sees the midfield run from Beth England as she breaks into the box, Smith tries to thread the ball through to her, Bruton though has tracked back all the way to the edge of her own box and makes a great interception.
Doncaster right back Lyndsey Cunningham with good work down the right gets a cross, Reading goal keeper Nicky Davies is their to claim the ball. Reading break, Bruton with the ball down the right, puts a low cross in along the six yard line goes past Hobbs, Kirby is closing in, however Cunningham has come across and gets to the ball first.
Courtney Sweetman-Kirk steals the ball off Reading captain Kirsty McGee at the back and from the left outside the penalty box shoots, off target Davies sees it wide of the goal.
Reading have a break again have the Doncaster defence stretched and the ball comes out to Kirby wide left, dropping her shoulder she bursts forwards looks to put the ball in from an acute angle, Hobbs is beaten as the ball flies into the top corner 1-0.
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| Fran Kirby looking to attack at every opportunity |
Doncaster make a change as Lauren Cresswell needs to come off having been injured, Millie Bright coming on and taking up a place in midfield as Victoria Williams moves into the left back slot.
Reading win the ball back in midfield the pass is perfect through to Kirby inside the box to the right of goal she shoots, Hobbs is beaten, the ball though misses the target and goes out for a goal kick.
Doncaster pressure late in the half, Sweetman-Kirk with a 20 yard strike that goes wide of Davies' goal, then Sigsworth heads wide from a Cunningham cross, then Sigsworth wins the ball from Reading's Rebecca Jane, looks to get a shot away, Davies though is there to make the save.
On the stroke of half-time Kirby is in again through on goal from a direct ball coming into the box she shifts the ball a couple of times and slides it into the bottom corner of the net to double the home sides lead 2-0.
Half-time Reading FC Women 2-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles
The pace and movement from Kirby has caused the Doncaster back line all sorts of problems, whilst in attack Reading's defenders have worked hard to limit the visitors chances. Doncaster know they need a big 2nd half performance if they want to come back into the match.
Reading kick off the 2nd half, they start brightly Bianca Bragg with the steal in midfield passes the ball out to Bruton who is free on the right, driving forwards she puts a cross in to close to Hobbs who collects.
Doncaster have a corner the delivery finds the head of Victoria Williams, heading down the ball is directly at Davies and she takes it cleanly.
Kirby with the ball in a deeper position comes into the middle and lets fly from 20 yards the rising ball is straight down Hobbs' throat and she grabs the ball.
Chance for Smith as the ball comes looping into her on the edge of the box central she attempts to volley it goalwards, looping up and down it is close but drops narrowly wide of goal. Moments later Beth England with the half volley from outside the box puts the ball onto the roof of the net.
Reading have a free kick just inside the half way line Lois Roche to deliver plays in a dangerous ball to the centre it spills loose off Hobbs, a shot is fired back in Little though is back to block on the line, the 2nd attempt is blocked by Millie Bright and Doncaster clear.
Smith is brought down 30 yards to the left of Reading's goal, it's Bright on the ball her curling effort won't come down in time and goes over.
Hat-trick! Bragg in the centre plays a perfectly weighted pass through to Kirby, the Doncaster defence is split as she is through on goal, Hobbs comes out, Kirby lifts it over the diving keeper though to seal her hat-trick 3-0.
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| Hat-trick hero Fran Kirby |
Another Reading break have numbers forwards midfielders looking to go beyond Kirby for a change as this time she turns provider playing the ball through to Bonnie Horwood inside the box his free, has time to weigh up her options stays composed sends it past Hobbs and scores 4-0.
Sweetman-Kirk has a strike from 30 yards as the visitors try to pull one back but as with all of their efforts on target Davies has been in the right place to make the save.
Bartrip clears a deep cross floated in from Doncaster, only as far as Sigsworth who on the edge of the box drives inside and shoots, Horwood is there almost knocked off her feet as she blocks the fierce effort and it is deflected wide for a corner.
Kasia Lipka picks up an injury and is forced to come off with Reanne Thomas coming on.
Bruton has the ball looks to have a shot, which is blocked by Williams, but Kirby is in again on goal this time though Hobbs makes a great save with her feet. Makes another fantastic save moments later as Bragg has a strike sees her shot tipped onto the post.
Kirby comes off the crowd applauding her display, Cheryl Williams coming on to play up front.
Not long before she is involved in the action as she is played in passes to Bruton to her right her shot is saved.
Doncaster claim for a penalty as Sigsworth goes down inside the box, but nothing is given. Minutes left Williams plays the ball into Sweetman-Kirk she turns and goes for goal as Davies comes out to meet her for once the keeper is beaten,covering however Kirsty McGee kicks the ball away from goal to concede the corner.
Reading bring off Harriet Scott late on with Ashleigh Goddard taking her place on the pitch, has little time to make an impact as the final whistle is blown and Reading seal an impressive 4-0 victory.
Was an impressive performance from Reading, Fran Kirby's hat-trick will no doubt and rightly so have the headlines. In midfield though Lois Roche, Bonnie Horwood and Biance Bragg ran the show winning the ball back often and springing an attack.
Doncaster will be very disappointed with the scoreline found it difficult to break Reading down in the final point and fail to close the 5 point gap Sunderland have over them at the top, will be looking over their shoulder to now as those 3pts for Reading see them move onto 20 points 4 behind Doncaster with a game in hand.
No doubt there will be a few more twists and turns in the FAWSL 2 title race, Reading though have definetly had their say.
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