Reading FC Women are many peoples favorites to chase down one of the two promotion spots on offer this season in FAWSL2 had a strong finish to the league last year in it's debut season and have retained the services of exciting youngster Fran Kirby who broke into the England Women's team last year on the back of some stunning performances.
Has started this season where she left of as Reading FC Women got of to a fantastic start to the season with Kirby scoring 10 goals alone as the club won their opening 3 league games to climb to the top of the FAWSL2 table. Last time out though they dropped their 1st points of the season losing at home 2-4 to Yeovil Town Ladies.
Oxford United Women had started the season with an opening day victory to register 3 early points, since then though they have lost their last 3 matches away to Durham Women and then at home to Yeovil Town Ladies and Aston Villa Ladies this past Sunday. Travelling to Reading they know they will need to be at their best if they want to take anything from the game.
A midweek journey from Norfolk to Farnborough FC where Reading FC Women play their home matches is always going to be a challenge even sacrificing my lunch break I got held up in traffic everywhere and got there half an hour before kick off, the stadium has a large car park though so no trouble there, and I was hungry too, they do good refreshments too, very rarely stray away from the cheeseburger option, chips too tonight as I took my seat for the match.
Being a decent sized non league stadium there is seating all round, good facilities the pitch looked in very good condition has a sprinkler system installed to keep the grass covering thick. A bright and pleasant evening as the teams took to the pitch.
Reading FC Women starting XI - Grace Moloney, Molly Bartrip, Rebecca Jane, Kirsty McGee (C), Kylie Davies, Bonnie Horwood, Georgina Giddings, Emma Follis, Lauren Bruton, Helen Ward & Fran Kirby.
subs - Lois Roche, Laura May-Walkley, Bianca Bragg, Charlie Estcourt, Eloise Wilson, Rachel Rowe & Chloe Samson.
Oxford United Women starting XI - Demi Lambourne, Isi Meade, Laura Nichol, Rosie Lane, Sahara Osborne-Ricketts (C), Kayleigh Hines, Katherine Nutman, Katie Stanley, Hannah Jaadla, Holly Pickett & Lauren Allison.
subs - Hannah Cox, Amy Chivers, Lindsay Pinker, Helen King, Chloe Bruce & Laura Low.
It's Oxford in their yellow shirts, with navy shorts and socks to get the match under way against Reading lined up in white and blue striped shirts, blue shorts and white socks. The visitors starting brightly winning an early corner on the right as Katie Stanley looks to take the ball on and drive into the area. From the corner it's Katherine Nutman to play the ball into the area in the box Kayleigh Hines makes minimal contact with her head before Reading get it away.
A 2nd corner is nodded on at the near post into the crowded area beyond, the ball is cleared out as far a Holly Pickett on the edge of the area she shoots the effort is blocked Reading launch a counter attack get Fran Kirby onto the ball down the left, looking to come inside Oxford goalkeeper Demi Lambourne comes and diving claims the ball at Kirby's feet. Is a positive start from both sides.
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| Oxford's Kayleigh Hines |
Reading are on the attack with Bonnie Horwood getting hold of the ball in the centre has Kirby making a run to her left, rolls the ball out to her, Taking her marker on Kirby sends her cross into the area is long, she has Emma Follis coming in from the right side of the pitch to meet it is a tight angle, she gets her head to the ball knocking it down back towards goal, Lambourne makes the save.
Oxford are working hard as a unit early on moving back and forth up the pitch limiting the space Reading can have to run in behind, are winning the ball back and looking to counter attack, Lauren Allison playing up front is getting support quicker, tries to slide a ball thorugh for Pickett, it's Reading defender Molly Bartrip who gets to the ball 1st.
GOAL! Reading's Lauren Bruton is fouled inside the Oxford box as the home side break getting the ball up the pitch and into Bruton's feet back to goal. The referee points to the penalty spot. It's Bruton herself to take makes no mistake hammering the ball to Lambourne's right and into the back of the net to bring the scores level with 15 minutes played 1-1.
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| Laruen Bruton scoring Reading's penalty |
In the centre of midfield for Reading's Georgina Giddings rolls the ball into Horwood, 30 yards out she looks to take on the shot, gets some swerve on the ball though Lambourne has time to shuffle across and take the ball into her chest. Reading are getting on the ball but finding it tough trying to get beyond the Oxford full back more often than not are forced back inside and put in an cross in front of the box that is easily dealt with.
Hines brings the ball forwards for Oxford, has Nutman making a great attacking run in front of her looks to play her in, Moloney comes out of the Reading goal to clear the ball, only as far of Oxford's Laura Nichol, she fires the ball back in towards goal and out of play, Moloney is far from happy.
Allison taking the ball down the right looks to put the cross into the box Bartrip gets something on the ball diverting it to the edge of the box, Nutman is the player racing in looking to strike the ball the shot is blocked at close range.
Kirby has the ball played forwards into her path, looks to push forwards to the right of the goal outside head down puts her foot through the shot drill it low and hard across the goal face and out for a goal kick. Another cross comes in from the right Oxford have gotten something on the ball taking the sting out of it is bouncing through to Bruton who looks to hit the ball on the turn puts her effort high and wide.
Oxford captain Sahara Osborne- Ricketts brings the ball out from the back travelling into the Reading half is scythed down by Follis in a position wide right a good distance from goal, Osborne-Ricketts looks to play the ball into the area gets to much on it sends it out of play before anyone can attack it.
Half time Reading FC Women 1-1 Oxford United Women
Oxford are doing well keeping a good shape playing a 4-1-4-1 formation with Hannah Jaadla offering good support to the back 4, which in term is allowing Nutman and Hines to go forward more along with Pickett and Stanley out wide too is meaning lone striker Allison who is often cutting a lone furrow for Oxford in attack is getting more support and more effective when she gets the ball.
Reading are getting the numbers forwards but finding it hard to get around a disciplined Oxford defence. Horwood is spraying the ball left and right with Kirby and Follis looking to take players on and get it into Ward and Bruton in the middle. Has been a very fast and high tempo game so far. It's Reading to get the 2nd half under way.
Again though it's Oxford that start positively with the ball down the left played into Hines she looks to shoot from the edge of the box, screw her shot wide of goal, takes a nick on the way through as a corner is given. Reading win the corner as it comes in look to break Oxford are quick to regroup and break up the move.
On the over lap for Reading, Becky Jane takes the ball past Oxford full back Isi Meade, comes inside fires the ball into Ward inside the box she can't make room to shoot gives it back to Jane, she tries to force her way through for a shot inside the box, Meade is after her with Osborne-Ricketts in close company defend well.
The game continues to be fast flowing no sooner is one team attacking the others box then the other is hunting with the ball going the other way. Oxford win another corner, played in from the left the ball is cleared but only as far as right back Laura Nichol 40 yards out to the right of goal, she takes a shot the ball bouncing through to Moloney.
Giddings goes forwards from Reading, with Kirby attacking down the left squares the ball through to Giddings outside the she attempts to hit the ball on the half volley, popping up she slices the shot wide.
Oxford are frustrating Reading there are a few strong challenges coming in from both sides, the referee though continues to let the game flow. A free kick is conceded in the Oxford half though it's Follis who get's the talking too from the referee. Lambourne to take plays a great ball up the pitch it's Allison clearing the Reading defence that is chasing after it can't wrap her foot around the ball before it runs out of play.
Reading are starting to see more of the ball, as they come forwards into the Oxford half, though the build up is a little slow as they all look to pick out the right pass, giving Oxford the chance to get everyone behind the ball again. More often than not it's Jaadla the one who puts the tackle in to win the ball back. Comes back tracking Bruton as she looks to bring the ball into the box, the Estonian international takes the ball off her feet before the shot can test the defence beyond.
Lambourne is called into action making a good double save as Horwood is played through the centre in on goal has Kirby in support to her right, but opts to shoot from the edge of the area, Lambourne makes the save the ball squirms loose though but is up and throws herself on the ball before Kirby can pounce.
Giddings blazes a shot wide as the ball is kicked out to her after Kirby tries to take on everyone to get a shot in on goal, the ball is half cleared to Giddings who shoots. More frustration is shown by the Reading players as refereeing decisions go against them. Another Reading move, Horwood with Kirby outside the area, the midfielder tries to roll the ball into Kirby's feet as she enters the area, Jaadla though is round once again on the cover to putting in the ball winning tackle.
Reading cry out wanting a penalty, as Jane trying to steal into the box from the right is tugged back by Pickett inside the area, referee doesn't give anything is the wrong side of the incident to be fair although his linesman wasn't. Reading are putting the Oxford goal under siege is an intense spell with attempted shots and blocks being put in, are a lot of bodies inside the box little space for the ball to squeeze through.
Another penalty shout for Reading, as Kirby trying to get after the ball from outside the box tumble over as she makes contact with Osborne-Ricketts who is down on the floor, again the referee shows no interest much to the dismay of the Reading crowd. Not long after and the crowd are up in arms again is Meade who misses her tackle clips Follis on the ankle as she looks to come inside into the box run beyond her, stays on her feet though and the protests are ignored.
GOAL! Reading's annoyance is only compounded when Oxford break out with the ball and retake the lead with a beauty of a strike from Kayleigh Hines. The ball is played into the midfielder from the right 35 yards out she drives her shot towards the Reading goal, Moloney throws herself across to try and stop it, can't and it's 1-2.
GOAL! No sooner have Oxford finished celebrating taking the lead for the 2nd time in the match then Reading pin the scores back level. From the retake, the ball comes to Bruton, travelling forwards she takes on the shot from outside the area, makes great contact sending the ball beyond Lambourne and into the top corner of the net 2-2. Reading make their 1st change bringing of captain McGee and bringing on Lois Roche with 70 minutes played.
Another fantastic double save by Lambourne to keep the scores level as Follis manages to go beyond Meade this time gets into the box fires the ball towards goal, Lambourne throws her gloves up knocks the ball away it is rolling across goal to the far post the danger not cleared as Horwood is racing in to try a poke the ball home, Lambourne scrambles and determinedly throws herself at Horwood's feet to smother the ball. oxford make their 1st change with Allison the playing leaving the field and Ella Franklin-Fraiture coming on.
Reading are forcing the play late on with 1st Roche putting a shot over the bar from distance then Molly Bartrip bombing forwards from the back taking on an early shot drilling it wide. Oxford are still looking to go forwards themselves, good work from Stanley on the right, beats her marker turning inside fires the ball into Franklin-Fraiture inside the D, has Jane coming across to prevent her getting a shot on goal, puts in a great tackle to deny the shooting chance.
Jaadla is rash with a challenge late on sliding in on Kirby. The free kick to the left side of the box 25 yards out Kirby is over the ball looks to go for goal, smashes it against the cross bar and over. Jaadla is substituted for Oxford, Chloe Bruce coming on, not long after Laura Low comes on to for Pickett. Into injury time a last attack for Reading as Follis looks to roll the ball forwards into the run of Bruton, it's Meade coming across to make the tackle.
The final whistle blows and the match ends in a 2-2 draw. Oxford the much happier of the 2 sides having picked up a point away from home. Reading drop points at the top of the table for the 2nd successive home match.
A good point earned by Oxford away to Reading, maybe even feel they could have taken the 3 points on the night, may have if they had held the lead longer on both occasions. Nevertheless this is one of the best performances I've seen from the team and after covering a few defeats on the blog it's nice to write about a positive score line. Manager Les Taylor will be pleased with the work rate and discipline his team showed tonight especially as the performance was maintained over the whole 90 minutes.
Reading will be disappointed created plenty of chances that one another night would have carved a team apart will feel aggrieved that they should maybe have been awarded at least 2 more penalties having seen them live I know they may well have been given on a different day. Another highly competitive game from FAWSL2 women's football matches are usually high tempo affairs anyway, but this one was played at a furious pace.
Reading's point sees them move to 10 points at the top of the table on goal difference over Doncaster Rovers Belles who play Aston Villa Ladies at the weekend.
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