Ascot United 6-0 Reading Women: Match Report

The Royals return to action with a heavy defeat at Ascot United.

Reading Women’s first match of 2025 ended with another heavy defeat, losing 6-0 to league leaders Ascot United. Goals from substitutes Alice Balaam, Sophie Doyle and Georgia Luckhurst-McCord, together with a hat-trick from Kate Fox, maintained the Yellas’ undefeated record this season.

After a three-week Christmas break, the season restarted with players and fans alike treated to not exactly ideal - wet and squally - conditions. The quality of Ascot United’s 3G surface meant the match actually went ahead (and it was the only league fixture to be played).

With Reading manager Pedro Bruno away, it was Shelley Strange and Emma Hopkins who took charge, making only one change to the starting line-up against Wycombe Wanderers on December 15: Mollie Dench in for the absent Sumayah Zayadi.

Although the Royals could only name four substitutes, it was pleasing to see Chloe Sykes, Caitlin Levy and Jasmine Clarke all fit and available, alongside Rosie Robinson - particularly after the unexpected recent announcement of the departure of club captain Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins.

Team: Cherry Preisner (GK), Mia Bradley, Lilly Brooke-Cousins, Poppy Airey, Megan Giles, Mollie Dench (Rosie Robinson, 70, Caitlin Levy, 85), Lucy Bolitho (Captain), Keira Morl (Turner, 85), Zuzanna Gajzler, Assia Fatri, Sajunae Turner (Chloe Sykes, 65)

Yellow cards: None

Subs unused: Jasmine Clarke

First half

Reading kicked off the New Year fixture and were immediately on the front foot, with Sajunae Turner’s first-minute shot surprising United goalkeeper Chloe Donellan into early action. She dived to her left to save and deflect for an early Royals corner.

10 minutes later it was the turn of Reading ‘keeper Cherry Preisner to spring into action, turning an effort from Yellas number nine Beth Lloyd away for a corner. The home side came close to opening the scoring again when Charlie Torry’s effort was volleyed over from close range.

United looked most dangerous down the flanks and Preisner had to be alert again, getting down quick to collect the ball on the edge of the penalty area, after a good run by right-winger Leah Robertson.

The Royals appeared to be growing into the match and gaining confidence with a couple of efforts to concern the home team. A shot from Assia Fatri was just wide of the target and a Lilly Brooke-Cousins free-kick tested the alertness of the United goalkeeper - her long-range set-piece zipping off the 3G pitch at quite a pace.

With Reading holding their own and not looking out of place against the league leaders (although still missing that quality in the final third of the pitch), it came as a real blow when the home side took the lead. Kate Fox’s cross, from a very tight angle, surprised everyone when her effort looped over the head of Preisner and curled into the top corner of the Reading goal. Bad luck indeed. 1-0.

Half-time: 1-0

However, the remaining 45 minutes were unfortunately a completely different story. If the Yellas were wounded by any half-time team talk, they certainly came out with a point to prove in the second half.

Reading, although now kicking towards the racecourse, didn’t get to see much of the back straight furlongs, being on the back foot pretty much straight from the restart and defending a corner within the opening seconds.

United had the chance to double their lead just four minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty - after a loud shout by the home side saw the referee confer with his assistant and point to the penalty spot. It wasn’t to be Lloyd’s afternoon after she appeared to have forgotten to wear her shooting boots (she missed a few good chances to score) - her spot-kick ballooned high and over the crossbar for a Reading let-off.

Any reprieve didn’t last long though, with Fox grabbing her second of the match on 55 minutes. She reacted quickest to reach out and slot her effort past the Reading goalkeeper from close range. 2-0.

As Reading appeared to tire, Ascot United turned on the class and demonstrated why they are top of the league, running the Royals’ midfield ragged and finding space behind the Reading defence.

A neat cut-back to substitute Luckhurst-McCord saw her first-time cross/shot loft high and towards the Reading goal - once again looping into the top corner and giving Preisner no chance. 3-0.

No matter what positional and substitutional changes the Royals management team made, the home side rampage continued. Another opening was missed when the United number nine, Lloyd, lashed a chance high and over the crossbar.

The final 15 minutes of the match was a long watch for Reading fans, with the visiting supporters hoping the home side might relax a little and save a bit of energy for their next opponents. Unfortunately, the team in yellow had other ideas and pushed on further to eventually double the scoreline.

Substitute Balaam - in her first first call-up to the senior team (from the under-18s) - made it 4-0. Another substitute, Doyle, extended the scoreline to 5-0, punishing the Reading defence for giving the ball away cheaply on the edge of the Royals penalty area.

And with four minutes of normal time remaining, Fox completed her hat-trick with an easy side foot into the Reading goal, after a perfect cross from busy Ascot United left-winger Olivia Glover. 6-0.

Final score: 6-0

Swear. Count to six. Sigh. In all seriousness though, this was never a fixture Reading were expected to win. They were up against a very impressive Ascot set-up - with something like 11 teams in total (from today’s first team to Ascot’s under-12s) all doing extremely well - with their reserve side hoping to get promoted to tier five on the basis that the first team go on to win this league!

While the ownership debacle continues (and who knows how or whether the women’s team feature in any plans?) - there’s also an ongoing challenge for development and growth of the pathway and women’s first team.

In a recent article from Neil Goodwin, Select Car Leasing content writer, Dave Evans (part of the excellent and hard-working saviours from the Community Trust) candidly spoke about the first team operating on a loss (begging the question of at what level is football ever sustainable?) and of even selling a portakabin to help with the finances.

There are also more important footballing battles that lie ahead - such as the matches against Selsey (January 19 at Arbor Park) and Badshot Lea - who both sit just two points above the Royals but after having played four and three matches more.

Before then, next weekend (January 12), the Royals are back at home (Arbor Park, Slough) with a 2pm kick-off against Winchester City Flyers. See you there!