READING FC WOMEN suffered back-to-back defeats as they slipped down to eighth in the Women’s Championship with a home loss to Sheffield United.
The Blades ensured that they moved above Reading in the table with a comfortable victory as Liam Gilbert’s team lost for the third time this season.
Going into the game, Reading were hoping to recover from their 3-1 loss at Sunderland last weekend which came following consecutive wins before the international break.
After a promising start, Lauren Wande was denied by United goalkeeper Fran Stenson after the forward latched onto a through ball from Halle Houssein and struck at goal.
The Blades made the breakthrough just after the half hour mark when Ashley Hodson reacted quickest to take advantage from a loose back pass, took the ball past Emily Orman and slotted into the empty net.
With a one goal lead at the break, the visitors quickly doubled their lead after the restart.
Just three minutes into the second-half, Isobel Goodwin stole possession before charging into the box and putting the ball past Orman.
Gilbert responded by making a double change to try and change Reading’s fortunes as Deanna Cooper and Josie Longhurst entered the contest in place of Houssein and Brooke Hendrix.
With 20 minutes to go, the game was all but won by the away side as United scored a third goal which saw Charlotte Newsham connect with Tara Bourne’s cross to convert and put the game beyond Reading.
The Royals tried to come up with a consolation goal as Longhurst was denied by the keeper before Tia Primmer went into the book for a mistimed tackle.
Primmer did manage to get on the scoreshet to claw a goal back in stoppage time to give the hosts a moment of joy.
Next up for Reading is an away trip to Birmingham City on Sunday, November 5.
Reading: Orman, Dugdale, Mayi Kith, Hendrix, Gregory, Houssein, Primmer, Estcourt, Woodham, Wade, Troelsgaard
Subs: Annets, Smith, Cooper, Elwood, Meadows-Tuson, Jarvis, Longhurst
Sheffield United: Stenson, Newsham, Barker, Bourne, Sigsworth, Rayner, Goodwin, Hodson, Hutton, A Brown, R Brown
Subs: Heeps, Docherty, Graham, Page, Wilcock, Haywood, Kinzett, Connolly-Jackson, Adebowale-Arimoro
Goals: Hodson 33’, Goodwin 48’, Newsham 72’, Primmer 90+4′
