Report: Reading Women 4-0 Bristol City Women

Goals from Fara Williams (two), Brooke Chaplen and Kirsty Pearce sealed all three points for the hosts at Adams Park.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, with half chances for both sides falling to Chaplen and Lauren Hemp respectively.

Reading broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark through Pearce. Rachel Rowe dispossessed Lorca Van De Putte, which resulted in a Reading corner. From the set-piece, the ball fell to Pearce to bundle home from six yards.

With half-time approaching, City Women had two chances come their way to equalise.

First of all, Chloe Arthur had an effort go narrowly wide and then Olivia Fergusson’s effort in the box was saved well on the line from Mary Earps.

The score was 1-0 to the hosts at the break, with the Vixens feeling they could easily get back into the game.

Reading started the second-half brightly and doubled their lead on the 50-minute mark. Fara Williams struck from 25 yards into the top corner.

Chaplen made it three shortly after, the striker was played through and she neatly chipped Sophie Baggaley.

On the hour mark, Chaplen almost doubled her tally by hitting the post with a thunderous right-footed shot.

The next ten minutes were all City Women, the introduction of Carla Humphrey and Aimee Palmer sparked some life into the visitors and they narrowly missed a number of chances.

The best chance fell to Hemp whose tap in went just wide after excellent work from Humphrey out-wide.

Williams made it four on 70 minutes, with another wonder strike from distance.

The remaining embers of the match were frantic exchanges between the two sides and it finished 4-0 to the hosts.

Bristol City Women: Baggaley, Van De Putte (Humphrey 60), Brown, Kerkdijk, Dykes, Arthur, Turner, Daniels, Estcourt (Palmer 60), Hemp, Fergusson (Farrow 72). Subs not used: Watson, E Wilson, Matthews, Allen.

Photo credit: Reading Women