Reading see the Blues over loss
Reading Women 0 Birmingham City Women 1
READING’S winless run extended to three matches after a narrow 1-0 loss at home to Birmingham.
The only goal of the game came in the seventh minute when Meaghan Sargeant bounced a shot beyond Grace Moloney.
Royals goalkeeper Moloney impressed throughout the afternoon, denying Lucy Staniforth and former teammate Emma Follis.
At the other end Brooke Chaplen and Lauren Bruton went close to grabbing an equaliser, but Reading fell to their first league defeat of the campaign, following on from Wednesday’s goalless draw at West Ham United.
“It’s really frustrating,” said Royals boss Kelly Chambers.
“But if you give Birmingham the lead, they’re a team that don’t let up and are a very hard team to score against.
“We had chances to come away with something. We scored plenty of goals last year and I think once we find one, we’ll find our feet and we’ll flourish from that.
“We’re not taking our chances.”
Chambers named an unchanged starting 11 and substitutes from the midweek goalless draw at West Ham United.
But they almost fell behind instantly when England’s Lucy Staniforth waltzed through the defence before eventually being stopped by a fine Moloney save.
However, the Blues, who are yet to concede a goal this campaign, took the lead when a cross from the left was met by Sargeant, who bounced the ball into the ground, looping it over Moloney and into the far corner.
Reading had not lost at
Adams Park since a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham back in February and they sought a quick equaliser when Harding tried her luck from distance.
But it was Moloney who was the busier keeper, denying both Staniforth and Charlie Wellings before also thwarting Follis early in the second half.
Her opposite number Ann KatrineBerger then had to be at her best to save from Chaplen at close range as the hosts began to pile on the pressure.
Harding had time and space to pick her spot, but fired straight at Berger and the keeper followed up with a brilliant save to deny Chaplen on the rebound.
And there was still time for one more huge opportunity, but Remi Allen headed over from inside the six-yard box.
“When you look at the players who are out – Jade Moore, Rachel Rowe, Molly Bartrip and Millie Farrow – they’re fantastic players to bring back into your squad and I want competition in this team,” said Chambers.
“For those four to come back, and they are coming back in the next week or so, it’s going to be a massive
importance to us.”
Reading sit fifth in the early table and go to Liverpool on Sunday (2pm).
READING: Moloney, Howard (Pacheco 58), Pearce (c), Potter, Harding, Allen, Furness, Bruton, F. Williams, Chaplen, Davison. Subs not used: Laws, Jane, Woodham, Estcourt.
Yellow card: Allen (51)
BIRMINGHAM: Katrin-Berger, P. Williams, Harrop, Mannion, Sargeant, Ladd, Ewers, Staniforth, Arthur (Mayling 80), Wellings, Follis (Scott 86).
Subs not used: Hayles, Scofield.
Goal: Sargeant (7)
Yellow card: Williams (90+4)
Attendance: 639
ELSEWHERE, games involving Woodley United Ladies, Sumas, Binfield and Wargrave were all postponed after heavy rain, but EVERSLEY AND CALIFORNIA LADIES
beat Barton United Ladies 2-0 with Emma Pointon among the scorers.