Reading FC Women are newly promoted to FAWSL 1 having won the FAWSL 2 title last season. Are currently in 7th place in the table but have yet to record a win in the league. That doesn't tell the whole story however as they are the draw specialists in the league having drawn 6 of their 9 matches played to date. Have battled hard to get something from the games they've played as they look to try and establish themselves in the top tier of women's football.
Have brought in a couple of new faces to bolster the squad during the summer transfer window. Remi Allen joining from Birmingham City Ladies to add even more steel to a combative midfield. Sophie Perry also joins having had a magnificent season with FAWPL Southern Division Champions, Brighton & Hove Albion WFC.
Manchester City Women are top of the table and looking in good shape to win their 1st ever FAWSL title since joining the league in 2014. Undefeated in 10 league games played this season with 8 wins and 2 draws. 4 points clear of 2nd placed Chelsea Ladies. One of the smallest squads in the league too. With the stop start nature of the FAWSL this season games can sometimes come thick and fast this being the 2nd match of 4 Manchester City Women will play in 12 days.
Are without influential attacking player Kosovare Aslanni currently away with Sweden competing in the Rio Olympic's. Have also lost defender Abbie McManus to injury will be out for several months, this has seen Jennifer Beattie drop from a midfield anchor role into the back 4. Dutch International star Tessel Middag was signed at the start of June and has taken on Beattie's midfield role. Izzy Christiansen has also returned to competitive action having missed a large chunk of the early season.
Made good time to the ground for a 7:45pm KO, chance to get some food and get settled watch the two sides warm up on an excellent playing surface, a large pitch too. A warm evening after a bright sunny day. A few dark clouds around but little chance of rain. The visitors had brought plenty of vocal support with them and with the Reading fans being a vocal bunch themselves a lively atmosphere was building.
Reading FC Women starting XI - Mary Earps, Rebecca Jane, Sophie Perry, Kirsty McGee, Kayleigh Hines, Lois Roche, Remi Allen, Lauren Bruton, Rachel Rowe, Emma Follis & Jade Boho-Sayo.
subs - Chloe Sansom, Molly Bartrip, Nia Jones, Laura-May Walkley, Amber Stobbs, Helen Ward & Melissa Fletcher.
Manchester City Women starting XI - Karen Bardsley, Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Steph Houghton (C), Jennifer Beattie, Tessel Middag, Jill Scott, Izzy Christiansen, Georgia Stanway, Nikita Parris & Jane Ross.
subs - Marie Hourihan, Toni Duggan, Keira Walsh, Ella Toone & Daphne Corboz.
It's Reading to kick off the 1st half wearing blue and white hooped shirts, blue shorts along with blue and white hooped socks with opponents Manchester City lined-up wearing sky blue shirts with navy sleeves, white shorts and sky blue socks. The ball is put long into the visitors half allowing them to get possession straight away, captain Steph Houghton plays a great 40 yard crossfield pass up to Georgia Stanway on the left side of attack, has Izzy Christiansen making a run from the middle of the park to get ahead of play looks to play her on the midfielder can't keep the ball in to cross into the box, goal kick.
Reading drop deep as a unit with Manchester City on the ball, Lucy Bronze attacks down the right with the ball the pass is into Nikita Parris she looks to take the ball inside into the area, the ball is taken from her feet by Lois Roche tracking back from midfield for Reading inside the box. Plenty of possession on the ball for the visitors early on, Scottish International, Jane Ross is flagged offside inside the area as the ball is threaded into her run.
From a goal kick, Reading get an attack going the ball with Emma Follis on the left side takes it on down the wing, sends an early ball into the Manchester City area a deflection near side takes it on into the path of Rachel Rowe coming in from the right, strikes the shot the ball hitting Demi Stokes as she charges it down. Back on the attack Manchester City get the ball into Bronze on the right storming forwards plays the pass inside along to top of the area, Ross strikes for goal, the shot blocked by the Reading defence lined-up along the top of their area.
Reading are getting everyone behind the ball more often than not having everyone inside their own half, affording Manchester City plenty of time and space on the ball, centre backs Houghton and Jennifer Beattie rarely challenged on the ball. Beattie coming forwards into the reading half takes a shot from distance the effort screws away from goal. Jill Scott plays a clever ball over the top looking to get Stanway in behind on the left, Reading right back Rebecca Jane gets up to head the ball behind for a corner kick. The corner is delivered deep towards the penalty spot, Houghton coming in is there meets the ball with her head sends a looping header back in on target the ball is headed away from danger off the goal line by Reading.
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| Manchester City captain, Steph Houghton attacking the ball from a corner. |
A strong start by Manchester City 10 minutes played. Neat foot work from Parris on the top right corner of the area as she receives the ball from Bronze attacking down the right, a flick to wrong foot her marker gets her inside to take on the shot looking to hit the ball on the volley puts the attempt over the crossbar. Little chance for the Reading attack to create anything, Houghton fouls Lauren Bruton mid-way inside her half, a chance for Reading to get the ball up into the opponents area Roche takes, it's Houghton who get's up highest to head the ball away.
Follis is getting some joy on the ball down the left of attack for Reading bringing the ball on sends in a cross towards the near post, is claimed well and held by Manchester City goalkeeper Karen Bardsley with striker Jade Boho-Sayo closing in on her. Up the other end Reading goalkeeper Mary Earps with a good take to catch the ball inside her six yard box deals well with a Bronze cross as Manchester City counter attack getting numbers forwards into the area. Ross and Christiansen look to link up centrally in front of the Reading area, a give and go between the pair Ross looks to send Christiansen clear into the box, a good run from the midfielder a vital tackle from Reading captain Kirsty McGee to deny her a shot on goal.
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| Reading FC Women captain, Kirsty McGee |
Manchester City are allowed to come on again and again with the ball, Parris has it at her feet inside her own half is one of the fastest players out there in the women's game right now surges forwards with the ball unchallenged, Christiansen has make a fantastic run getting clear to receive the ball on the left, Parris has only one thing on her mind however taking on the shot from 25 yards out sees her effort sail over the bar. A powerful run through the middle by Bruton comes to an end as she is checked inside the D, nothing given Reading retain possession of the ball with Sophie Perry left her cross swept into the area is collected by Bardsley look to attack quickly work the ball through the middle into Ross shot from the edge of the box is straight at Earps.
Bruton on the ball 30 yards out goes for goal lifting her shot towards the top corner, may have been drifting wide, Bardsley moving across to her left gets hold of the ball. Bruton is off the field receiving treatment after a Bronze challenge, Reading down to 10 briefly continue to defend doggedly. Bronze getting deep on the right with the ball has players racing to get into the six yard box as she plays the cross in deep towards the far post, Christiansen is there looks to send her header back across the goal to be attacked, Earps with firm gloves takes hold of the ball and does well to keep it between her gloves as Scott lunging in with a high leg looks clips her.
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| Reading's Rebecca Jane, looks to break away from Georgia Stanway of Manchester City Women |
Half an hour played it's still goalless despite the pressure and possession Manchester City have, Parris with a low shot drilled in from the edge of the area is straight at Earps, pops out of her body as she falls forwards onto the ball, spinning away to her left, Christiansen is interested, Earps up goes after her pushing her further wide before retreating back to her goal by then her defence has regrouped the cross is dealt with. Perry has had a busy 1st half dealing with both Parris and Bronze. Bronze is sent away down the right by Scott's pass in midfield, Perry leaps to head the ball as Bronze attempts to lift the ball over her, dealt with well as Parris was clear inside the box to receive the ball.
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| Centre back, Jennifer Beattie had plenty of time on the ball for Manchester City Women in the 1st half |
GOAL! The deadlock is finally broken on the 38th minute, Reading have been defending resolutely, but that is pretty much all they've been doing inviting Manchester City onto them. Scott winning the tackle in midfield plays a great pass into Parris breaking on the right, charging forwards into the area pulls the ball back from the byline as the Reading defence drop deep, Christiansen as she has done all game has made the midfield run not tracked is there to head the ball home from six yards 0-1.
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| Izzy Christiansen opens the scoring for Manchester City Women |
Boho-Sayo gets on to a long ball sent up to her on the right, from distance she takes on the strike, Bardsley down low comfortably takes control of the ball. Coming down the left Stanway has the ball at her feet, a clever turn sees her spin off her marker get inside for the shot top left corner of the area, the strike is blocked by Kayleigh Hines in the centre of the Reading defence.
Half-time Reading FC Women 0-1 Manchester City Women
At half-time Reading see themselves a goal down have been defending hard getting everyone behind the ball so much so Manchester City have been allowed to take throw in's inside their own half unopposed as the home side drop everyone back into their own half, with so much time allowed on the ball it eventually told. Had to be patient Reading have been very hard to break down, defended well for the large part without getting forwards much. Christiansen making some clever runs from midfield eventually getting free to score. A slender lead but at the half way stage in the match the league leaders are well in control of the game. The pitch receiving a liberal soaking of water as the sprinklers come on so to does Reading's substitute goalkeeper Chloe Sansom as one sprinkler catches her off guard.
Manchester City get the 2nd half underway. No changes from either side at the break. Start as they ended the 1st half with possession of the ball. Remi Allen nips in to win the ball in midfield plays it out to Follis on the left, looks to be shoved off the ball as she drives on but nothing given. Reading are looking to get players further forwards Roche into Follis left plays it inside the Bruton pushing forwards, Tessel Middag gets back on her to win the ball back for Manchester City.
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| Manchester City Women's, Tessel Middag |
Pushing forwards through the centre Scott plays the ball into Stanway coming inside from the left flank turn and shot on the edge of the box the low strike is again just wide of the left goal post. Stokes getting forwards on the left sweeps in a long cross deep towards the far post the ball is headed away by Perry with Parris closing in .
52 minutes on the board and Reading have their 1st corner of the match, as Boho-Sayo is clear for a moment on the right, Stanway get's back on her to tackle the ball running out for the corner. The set-piece allows players to come up form the back the delivery is a good one the target Hines a fantastic header of the ball out towards the far post area inside the six yard box a good connection on the ball looking to send it back across the goal the ball is claimed firmly by Bardsley the break is on Manchester City surge forwards the ball with Stanway her shot from outside the box is blocked by Jane.
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| Reading FC Women's, Remi Allen |
Stanway hits the post! The ball is rolled into her wide left, turning inside hard it hard from 25 yards out, Earps throws herself to her left in a attempt to get to the ball, smashes off the base of the goalpost and out for the goal kick. Reading are getting a little more joy on the ball as they press it a little higher. Roche with a good ball winning tackle sees the ball rebound into the Manchester City half into space with Follis setting off after it, so too does Bardsley who comes running out of her area, slight hesitation from Follis allows the keeper sliding in to get there first and clear the ball.
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| Manchester City Women's, Georgia Stanway |
60th minute sees the 1st change of the match, for Manchester City as they bring off holding midfielder, Middag to be replaced by Kiera Walsh. Hines is called into action as she gets up highest inside the box to clear a cross from Bronze. Reading make their 1st change with Laura-May Walkley coming on to replace Roche. Earps comes charging out of her goal to save with her legs inside the box as Christiansen puts Stanway through on goal on the left out for a corner kick on the left
Taken short, Manchester City keep the ball on the left playing it up the line before crossing along the top of the area both Scott then Parris beyond her see shots blocked by Reading as the home side continue to defend doggedly. Walsh get's herself booked as she tugs back Bruton as the Reading midfielder looking lively tries to race clear through the middle. The ball put long up into the box is headed out to the left by Houghton the ball picked up by Follis she looks to send a cross in towards the far post, runs out of play for the goal kick.
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| Jade Boho-Sayo looks to keep Steph Houghton off the ball |
Ross checks her run through the middle as Manchester City break again down the left finds herself free to the right of the D as the ball is fizzed into her path looking to hit her shot across the ball pulls the effort away from goal. 20 minutes left to play Manchester City hold onto the lead make a 2nd change Stanway the player off as Toni Duggan enters the field of play. Bruton is looking like she can make something happen for Reading neat footwork sees her in behind her marker, Follis sets off down the left wing, Bruton looks to put the pass into her run, Houghton comes back to clear the ball for a corner kick. From the left goes long again the target Hines once more, has Scott on her this time, still gets her head to the ball, can only place the ball down wide of goal. 10 minutes left on the clock
GOAL! Manchester City double their lead as McGee slides in to win the ball inside her box put it out of play for the corner kick. The ball from the right is played long and deep falls to Houghton she lays it back to Duggan waiting outside the box centrally, is a stunning strike and she hits the shot across the line of the ball lifting it up arrowing into the top right corner, nothing Earps can do as she throws herself at the ball in vain 0-2.
Both sides make a change Reading taking off Allen throw on a striker with Melissa Fletcher on the pitch. Manchester City bring Scott off, Daphne Corboz the player coming on with less than 8 minutes to go. Ross sees a shot sail over the crossbar from the top left corner of the Reading area.
Counter attack by Reading the ball played into Bruton high up the pitch powers her way through Manchester City to get into the area right of goal, the tackle comes in the ball taken off her toes rolls out to Boho-Sayo right side has Follis free far side if she goes long with the cross, gets it wrong putting the ball in central Bardsley right behind it claims the ball. A corner to Manchester City on the right side is headed a foot over the bar by Beattie rising high at the near post.
GOAL! Penalty to Reading on the 88th minute! A move orchestrated by Bruton again for the home side as she gets forwards with the ball loft side this time into the box, Parris comes back to tackle her gets it away from her, Follis is beyond her however and the ball straight at her she looks to get it up in front of goal, is brought down tripped by Parris the referee points to the spot. Bruton to take it wrong foots Bardsley who creeps to her right, the ball instead drilled low and hard into the bottom left corner 1-2.
4 minutes of added on time to be played, neither side can fashion a chance as Reading rally late at the end the final whistle blows and Manchester City extend their lead to 6 points at the top of the FAWSL 1 table. Dominated for pretty much the whole match and at 2-0 were cruising late drama at the end as Reading pull a goal back from the penalty spot makes it a less than comfortable looking win than it was.
Manchester City had to be patient but with so much of the ball it was attack v defence for large parts of the 1st half. Got the win but may feel with so much of the ball they could have been more clinical in the final 3rd. Reading to their credit defended well, put themselves under pressure to be sure and as they came out a bit more in the 2nd half and got it back to 2-1 may feel they could have gotten something from the match had they been a little more adventurous.
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