Reading FC Women picked up a stunning away win against title-chasing Charlton Athletic to move away from the Women’s Championship danger zone.
The victory lifts the Royals up to eighth place in the table and puts them six points away from the relegation zone with seven games left.
It was a hard fought win for Reading who went into the game against the odds against an Addicks side that had only lost once in the entire league season prior to kick-off.
Having dominated the opening half an hour, the Addicks were awarded a penalty when KAyliehg Barton was taken down in the box by Jessie Stapleton.
Barton took responsibility from the spot only to strike her effort off the post as she was denied the breakthrough.
The only goal of the game came in the 42nd minute with a strike worthy of winning any match from Charlie Wellings.
Wellings picked the ball up 35 yards from goal, took a quick look to spot the keeper slightly off her line and produced a magnificent effort which looped over Rogers to find the back of the net.
Charlton had their chances in the second-half to claw themselves back in the game, but Reading stayed determined to shut them out.
It was backs to the wall stuff for much of the half, but Reading persisted as goalkeeper EMily Orman made some vital contributions to help her side to a clean sheet.
Next up for the Royals is another away trip as they head to the south coast to play Southampton on Sunday.
Charlton: Rogers, McKenna, N’Dow, Addison, Longhurst, McGowan, Barton, Skeels, Roe, Pearse, Filis
Subs: Gray, Ross, Johnson, Humphrey, Muya, Bashford, O’Rourke
Reading: Orman, Mayi Kith, Stapleton, Dugdale, Roberts, Wade, Houssein, Estcourt, Flannery, Wellings, Woolley
Subs: Annets, Burns, Smith, Jarvis, Wilson, Elwood, Cooper, Perry, Longhurst
Goals: Wellings 42’
