Reading Women 0-3 Ascot United Women: Match Report

The Royals returned to league action with a fairly heavy home defeat to the league leaders.

The Royals found themselves on the wrong end of a 0-3 scoreline on Sunday, helped by two own goals and another from Ascot’s Leah Littlechild, to secure all three points in the Berkshire derby at Arbour Park.

It was Reading’s fifth league match of the season - after last weekend’s match away to Badshot Lea was called off due to a waterlogged pitch - and their first league encounter in nearly two months (since Porchester Ladies on October 6).

Leading up to the match, the Reading FC Community Trust announced the terrific news of Select Car Leasing becoming the new principal partner - pledging their support to both the women’s first team and the youth pathway teams.

The continued extension of this partnership is another example of the commitment (and white-knight behaviours) from the directors of this locally based business. They’ve come to the rescue of our club in many ways during our darkest moments, for which we are truly thankful.

Although it was great to be back playing a home match (at Arbour Park), and a league game at that, it was against league leaders Ascot United. The visitors started (and finished) the match undefeated in the league, equal on points with Oxford City but top of table based on their superior goal difference (helped by an 11-0 victory over Woodley United in their opening fixture of the season!) and with two games in hand on City.

The set-up and structure at Ascot United appears very impressive indeed - from the quality of the side to the sheer number of teams supported, the enthusiastic fanbase and the professionalism of their social media content and press coverage. It’s certainly something for Reading to aspire to as the rebuilding process continues.

Ascot (also known as the Yellas) were also able to name an unchanged team. They’re hungry for promotion and keen to upgrade from bridesmaid to bride - after finishing second in the league for the last two seasons. Promotion would also leave a position which could be filled by their reserve team, who are currently also positioned at the top of their table, in the tier and league below.

For the Royals, there were two changes to the line-up which gained a penalty shoot out victory in the Berks & Bucks Cup against Abingdon United. Lily Simmons and Mollie Dench started in place of Rachael Poole (not in the squad today) and club captain Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins, who limped off last week with an ankle injury. Mia Bradley took the armband and led the team out.

Team: Cherry Preisner (GK), Mia Bradley (Captain), Ellie Herbert (Poppy Airey, 44), Lilly Brooke-Cousins (Megan Giles, 44, Rosie Robinson, 79), Lucy Bolitho, Keira Morl, Zuzanna Gajzler, Mollie Dench, Assia Fatri, Sajunae Turner (Simmons, 79), Lily Simmons (Brooke-Cousins, 64)

Reading yellow cards: Mollie Dench, 15, Assia Fatri, 69

First half

It was the visitors who kicked off first and they quickly stamped their authority on the match. Royals goalkeeper Cherry Preisner was called into action in the opening minutes with a superb and brave block, from a hard-hit close-range shot from Yellas number nine Beth Lloyd.

With pressure mounting 10 minutes into the match, Reading conceded the first of two own goals when Mia Bradley unluckily turned the ball into her own net after a cross was bulleted across the six-yard box by Leah Littlechild on the right wing. 0-1.

Ascot doubled the lead just before the half-hour mark, this time from the other flank. Littlechild was left with an easy tap-in at the back post following a cross from Olivia Glover. 0-2.

With only three available players on the bench and rolling substitutes a valuable option, Reading manager Pedro Bruno chose to make a double change just before the half-time break. Poppy Airey made her debut in place of Brooke-Cousins, who was given a well earned breather after relentless pressure down the Reading left, and Megan Giles came on in place of Ellie Herbert.

Half-time: 0-2

The opening 10 minutes of the restart looked promising, with Zuzanna Gajzler finding some space down the Reading left, leading to a rare couple of attacks which unfortunately didn’t come to anything.

The feeling of growing momentum was proven short-lived when, once again, Reading gifted another own goal to the visitors. Airey got her head to a cross from United’s Chloe Ball, only to see this loop over Preisner and into the net. 0-3.

The young Reading goalkeeper has been one of a number of stand-out quality players within the squad this season, with impressive form to date. Although she couldn’t do anything about the goals conceded in this game, she certainly played a big part in stopping the visitors from extending their lead. One full-stretch save denied Charlie Torry’s effort after the Royals’ defence had failed to clear a corner.

Ascot were comfortably in control of the match and hit the post a couple of times before the final whistle. Substitute Leah Robertson tried an audacious chip over the Reading goalkeeper - her cheeky effort rebounding off the post - and Lloyd’s set-piece, the last free-kick of the match, skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Full-time: 0-3

From kick-off the Royals started cautiously and looked like they were lacking a bit of belief and confidence. If accurate, that’s perfectly understandable for a team still learning and developing, going up against the undefeated and experienced league leaders and favourites for promotion.

In all fairness it was a comfortable 90 minutes for the visitors. The Yellas’ goalkeeper was untested and Reading were unable to land a blow, with the United defence easily able to soak up any pressure from the odd Reading breakaway.

For the Royals there are other - more important - league matches to come. I’ve no doubt that they will see us gain points and start to move up the table, in turn joining up that cycle to give them the much needed boost in confidence in the league, having already displayed that in recent cup and penalty shootout form.

Talking of which, next weekend sees the Royals back in league cup action. Reading are away to Sholing (2pm kick-off, Sunday December 8) and are looking to avenge the opening match of the season’s 3-0 defeat. See you there!