Patience pays off for Taylor’s title chasers

CHLOE Kelly’s goal three minutes from time sealed a crucial win for City and made it 11 consecutive wins as they continued their WSL title bid.

Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney frustrated the Blues throughout. She pushed a Rose Lavelle shot over before tipping a Caroline Weir effort round the post.

Reading created a big chance when Jess Fishlock played in Amalie Eikeland, but her effort was blocked by Ellie Roebuck.

Lauren Hemp struck the post and, before the half ended, Moloney saved once again from Lavelle.

Weir fired over a great chance with 10 minutes to go, but the Blues sealed the win when Hemp skipped past several Reading defenders to set up Kelly with just a few minutes left on the clock. Said boss Taylor: “The game is played over 90 minutes and we spoke at half-time about being patient, keeping to the process we work to and, to be fair, we were fairly calm. I thought we managed the game really well and that’s because we’ve done it before.

“It was a moment of magic from Lauren Hemp, dancing her way through, but I thought the way the team handled the game was really good.

“They changed from a back five to a back four due to us controlling the game and their game plan nearly worked, but it’s all about the wins and I’m really proud of the players.

“We had chances and maybe we needed to be a little bit more clinical, but I felt the way we played and how we handled them trying to slow the game down, I thought we managed that well.”