Women jump to third after big win at Yeovil
READING jumped up to third in the Super League table with a comfortable win at struggling Yeovil.
The Royals won the reverse fixture 3-0 last month and finally had a worthwhile trip to Somerset, having already twice travelled down for this clash only for it to be postponed.
They wasted little time in getting in front with Remi Allen bagging two early goals before Rachel Furness and Rachel Rowe sealed a 4-0 success with second half strikes.
“Footballing-wise we could’ve been a bit better,” said manager Kelly Chambers.
“But it was always going to be difficult on that pitch.
“Places like this are hard to come to. We’re used to playing expansive football, but we knew we might have to be different. The most important thing was the win.
“A nice clean sheet, four goals on the board and that now takes us to third in the league, where we want to be.”
Unsurprisingly Chambers named an unchanged side from the one which picked up a brilliant 2-0 win at Manchester City last time out. But there were notable additions to the bench with Harriet Scott and Molly Bartrip returning from injury.
And Reading flew out the traps with Allen continuing her fine recent scoring form, heading in from Fara Williams’ cross.
She soon got her second, heading in again from a corner to give Yeovil, still yet to score a league goal all season, with a mountain to climb.
But the hosts did go close to a quick response with Jessie Jones denied by goalkeeper Mary Earps before Kirsty Pearce was forced to hack an effort off the line.
Brooke Chaplen missed a good chance to make it 3-0, but it mattered little as Furness got the job done just before the hour mark with another header from a corner.
Jade Moore went close to a fourth before a stunning goal wrapped up the win as Rowe unleashed a long-range strike into the top corner.
“We said at the start of the game that we need to come out of the blocks flying and the girls delivered straight away,” said Chambers.
“The fourth goal was a great strike. That’s what she (Rowe) is capable of.
“She deserves a goal like that for the performances she’s put in recently and again it’s nice to see people like Remi Allen collecting goals from midfield. We’ve not got to rely on our strikers, we’ve got goals coming from all across the pitch, which is great for us.”
Reading were due back out last night with a league trip to Arsenal and they host Everton at Adams Park on Sunday (12.30pm).
The final home game of the season against Liverpool has now been moved to Madejski Stadium on Saturday, May 12 (2pm). Entry is free for season ticket holders of both the men’s and women’s sides whilst parking will be free to all.