Report: Bristol City Women 0-1 Reading Women

What happened?

The first clear cut chance of the half fell to Lucy Graham, who picked up the ball just inside the Reading eighteen-yard box and fired a shot towards goal, unfortunately it didn’t test Grace Moloney and flashed just wide of the left upright. 

City Women continued to press as Poppy Pattinson swung a ball into the danger area and managed to pick out Abi Harrison. The striker did well to beat Furness to the ball but she couldn’t quite direct her header on target. 

Reading had multiple chances to take the lead when a goalmouth scramble ensued, Loren Dykes and Frankie Brown put their bodies on the line to block shots from Jade Moore before Sophie Baggaley bravely claimed the ball in traffic. 

The visitors started the second half the  brighter of the two teams, and were awarded a penalty three minutes into the half after Lucy Graham tripped Lauren Bruton in the box. 

Fara Williams stepped up for Reading and looked to place the ball into the bottom right hand corner, but Sophie Baggaley had other ideas as she got down to tip the ball around the post and save the penalty. 

The goalkeeper was called into action shortly after to stop Molly Bartrip’s long range effort from heading into the top corner, before Loren Dykes cleared the follow up attempt off the line. 

Reading got their breakthrough on the fifty minute mark as Brooke Chaplen latched onto Molly Bartrip’s through ball and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 

City Women pressed for an equaliser but efforts from Abi Harrison and Poppy Pattinson failed to trouble Grace Moloney in the Reading net and the visitors held out to secure all three points.

Teams: 

Bristol City Women: Baggaley, Dykes (C), Kerkdijk, Evans, Pattinson, Biesmans, Brown, Graham, Humphrey, Ayane (Rutherford 60’), Harrison

Subs: Cumings (GK), Kemppi, Allen, Payne, Wilson, Robinson

Reading Women: Moloney, Pacheco, Williams (Honnudottir 75’), Bartrip, Furness, Allen, Bruton, Harding, Moore, Chaplen (Farrow 85’), Potter

Subs: Pearce, Davison, Bailey, Estcort, Howard

Key moment:

Reading had come out firing in the second half and were awarded a penalty shortly after play resumed. 

Fara Williams stepped up for the hosts but her penalty attempt was brilliantly saved by Sophie Baggaley. 

The keeper got low to her left to push the ball behind and keep her side in the game. 

Consistent. 

Player of the match:

 Julie Biesmans 

                 Frankie Brown 

It was a disappointing result for City Women, but it was a good performance on the whole from the squad. 

There were a few stand-out players and this week the Player of the Match accolade is shared between Frankie Brown and Julie Biesmans. 

The two central midfielders worked tirelessly all afternoon and complimented each other brilliantly in the centre of the park to give their side a platform to build from. 

Classy. 

Photo of the match: