READING FC WOMEN had to dig deep to pick up a point after they were forced to hold on with 10 players in their home match with Charlton Athletic.
The Addicks created a whole host of chances, but were unable to find the net after Sanne Troelsgaard had been dismissed early in the second-half for an off the ball incident.
A mixture of good fortune, resilient defending and poor finishing from Charlton meant that Reading were able to keep their opponents out after being under pressure for the majority of the game.
Reading have managed to pick up consecutive draws under new boss Liam Gilbert as they start life in the Championship undefeated, but still searching for their first win.
After being denied a winning start on their league opener at Crystal Palace in the dying moments, the Royals looked to get the first win of the campaign under their belts.
There was a start for newly named club captain Lily Woodham, while Royals boss Liam Gilbert selected last season’s Sanne Troelsgaard to start up top.
Reading started on the front foot in the first few minutes as Deanna Cooper sensed a chance to strike at goal, but didn’t get enough power on her 25-yard shot to trouble Sian Rogers
That was as good as it got for Reading in attack in the opening half as they were unable to find any intensity and creative spark to trouble the Addicks.
Charlton grew into the game and looked the superior side throughout the half.
Reading’s defence were kept busy as Easther Mayi Kith had to storm out to the left byline to put in a well executed tackle on Bethan Roe to prevent her from striding any further forward.
Charlton created the best chance of the half with 20 minutes on the clock when Karin Muya did superbly well to hold off her defender and rolled the ball back into the path of Melissa Johnson, who only managed a tame shot that was caught by Emily Orban.
The Addicks caused chaos in the Royals backline with a corner that dropped at the near post as several Reading players frantically scrambled to get the ball away from harm’s way.
Troelsgaard was left isolated up top for much of the half as she tried to find a yard of space in the box with a neat turn that won her team a corner.
Charlton then looked to force an opening when Johnson looked to pull the trigger in front of goal only to be stopped by an exceptional piece of defending from Brooke Hendrix.
Both Woodham and Tia Primmer went into the book late on in the half as the opening 45 ended goalless.
Reading showed some early intent after the restart as Woodham worked well down the left to drift in a teasing ball searching for Troelsgaard that was cut out by the Charlton defence.
The game took a turn just moments later when Troelsgaard was given her marching orders after she needlessly smashed through Kiera Skeels off the ball and was subsequently sent off.
Things almost went from bad to worse when Muya breezed past her full-back again and her cross was just an inch too high for Kayliegh Green to convert.
Green had another headed chance when she was left unmarked in the middle, but saw her effort stopped by Orman.
Charlton kept knocking on the door to try and find an opener only to be left frustrated with a lack of cutting edge in front of goal.
The resolve of the Reading backline was constantly tested as a wicked delivery from Carla Humphhrey was headed just over the top from Green after Orban had missed her punch.
The away team kept plugging away, however it proved to be an evening of frustration as they lacked a clinical edge to take the points.
The final whistle went after six minutes of added time to Reading’s relief as they added another point to their tally.
Gilbert’s team face their next test next Sunday away at London City.
Reading: Orman, Dugdale, Cooper, Hendrix, Mayi Kith, Roberts, Woodham (c), Primmer, Wade, Estcourt, Troelsgaard
Subs: Kite, Meadows Tuson, Wilson, Elwood, Longhurst, Kennedy, Cox, Rasmussen
Charlton Athletic: Rogers, McKenna, Ross, N’Dow, Johnson, Longhurst (c), Green, Muya, Skeels, Roche, Roe
Subs: Gray, Addison, Humphrey, Ayisi, Godfrey, Bashford, O’Rourke, Bell
