READING FC’s torrid Women’s Super League form came to an end thanks to Rachel Rowe’s dramatic late double to gift the Royals victory against Leicester City.
The Royals looked headed for the bottom of the table heading into the 90th minute a goal down, but Rowe came up with the goods to seal a last-gasp brace.
Her corner kick evaded everyone to equaliser before she thumped in a spectacular winner from range to end Reading’s winless run.
The win sees Reading earn their first WSL points of the season to move three points clear of Leicester at the bottom and ends a run of 14 league games without a win.
Both teams came into the contest seeking their first points of the season in a clash between the bottom two sides in the Women’s Super League.
The Royals had suffered four successive league defeats prior to the match, while the Foxes had lost five.
Royals boss Kelly Chambers made two changes to try and fix Reading’s form as Faye Bryson and Diane Caldwell replaced Deanna Cooper and Tia Primmer from the 3-2 defeat at West Ham.
Looking comfortable on home turf, Reading enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the first-half in a match that was bound to be cagey.
Reading goalkeeper Jackie Burns had to rush quickly off her line to intercept a long through ball to stop Leicester getting through with an alert piece of sweeping.
The hosts’ first chance came for Justine Vanhaevermaet when she cut in on her left foot and took a swipe at goal that looped just inches over the bar as she looked to pick out the top corner.
Reading continued to dominate and a quick piece of interplay from Natasha Dowie and Amalie Eikeland saw the forwards combine before a heavy touch from the Norwegian saw the ball run through to the keeper.
Eikeland drove forward with purpose and shifted the ball out wide to Lily Woodham who hesitated to take a shot and missed her opportunity as Leicester recovered.
The first booking of the game went to Leicesters’ Shannon O’Brien after she pulled the shirt of Eikeland to stop her from bursting forward on the right.
Reading asserted pressure when Bryson’s cross was flapped at by goalkeeper Kirstie Levell, but Erin Simons was well placed to clear up before the Royals could pounce.
Having had the better of the play, the Royals were suckerpunched in the 36th minute and found themselves a goal down at the Foxes struck on the counter attack.
Reading were too slow to react to O’Brien’s drive upfield and she fed the ball to NatashaFlint who finished clinically with an arrowed shot into the far corner from 20 yards out.
Both teams traded chances in the opening exchanges of the second-half.
The ball dropped invitingly for Lily Woodham to take aim but she smashed her shot over the top.
Just moments later, the combination of O’Brien and Flint nearly caused damage again, but Flint could only hit the side netting after Burns closed the angle.
Reading continued to fight to get back in the game and were left frustrated as Rachel Rowe picked up a yellow on the hour mark.
With 25 minutes to play, Chambers made two changes as Tia Primmer and Deanna Cooper replaced Vanhaevermaet and Bryson.
The Royals couldn’t find a way past to penetrate the Foxes defence as Sanne Troeslgaard was added to the mix in the 83rd minute to try and salvage a result.
A big chance came the way in the 87th minute when a whipped cross from Mukandi landed for Wellings who couldn’t direct her header on target.
Heading into the 90th minute, Reading were given a chance with a set-piece on the right. Woodham swung in a cross that was punched away confidently by the keeper.
With time running out, Rowe produced an equaliser when her inswinging corner wasn’t dealt with and evaded everyone to find the net.
Reading weren’t done yet as they showed immense fighting spirit to break Leicester hearts in stoppage time.
Rowe skipped forward with purpose, moved past three Leicester players before she hit a thunderous strike that flew past the keeper to secure the win in the most dramatic of circumstances.
The win sees Reading move three points clear of Leicester at the bottom of the WSL.
Reading: Burns, Mukandi (c), Evans, Caldwell, Bryson, Woodham, Vanhaevermaet, Rowe, Eikeland, Wellings, Dowie
Subs: Wade, Cooper, Jane, Poulter, Meadows-Tuson, Primmer, Troelsgaard
Leicester: Levell, Howard, Tierney, Plumptre, Simon, Purfield, Whelan, Pike, Jones, Flint, O’Brien
Subs: Lambourne, Vance, Bott, McManus, Jones, Goodwin, Baker, Poor, Scofield
Goals: Flint 36’, Rowe 90’, 90+2’
