READING FC WOMEN overturned a two-goal deficit to make it four consecutive wins in the Women’s Super League.
The Blues took the lead inside three minutes through Gemma Lawley and the league’s bottom side shocked their opponents further when Jade Pennock netted.
But the Royals didn’t let that deter them and turned the game on its head with goals from Justine Vanhaevermaet, Natasha Dowie and Emma Harries to take maximum points.
Kelly Chambers’ team went in the game hoping to make it a club-record four wins on the bounce in the WSL, while Birmingham were looking to lift themselves off the bottom of the table.
Birmingham took a shock lead in the third minute with the first clear cut chance of the game when Lawley rose highest from the corner to power a header past Grace Moloney.
In a frustrating opening to the game for Reading, they were unable to forge too many chances to try and get back level as Birmingham bosses the game and enjoyed the majority of possession.
The Blues then added to their lead in the 35th minute when Pennock got on the end of Libby Smith’s through ball and poked the ball past Moloney to put Darren Carter’s side in an unfamiliar position of being two goals to the good.
Following the coincident that led to Birmingham’s, there was great concern after goalkeeper Moloney stayed down after a collision with Pennock.
A long break in play followed as the Royals keeper received treatment from the medical team and had to be stretchered off the field of play and was replaced by backup goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart.
With plenty of work to do to claw the game back in their favour, the Royals gave the home crowd at the Select Car Leasing something to cheer as they grabbed a beacon of hope to get back in the game before half-time.
In the first minute of stoppage time before the break, Justine Vanhaevermaet towered above the Blues defence to latch onto the end of Lily Woodham’s inviting cross from a free-kick and looped a header beyond goalkeeper Emily Ramsey.
Reading came out all guns blazing after the restart in search of getting back on level terms and they wasted no time in their quest to complete a comeback.
Two minutes into the second half, the referee pointed to the penalty spot to award Reading a spot kick after Emma Harries’ tricky work in the box saw her tripped.
Having missed her last penalty at home to Leicester City, Natasha Dowie stepped up to make amends and did exactly that by confidently dispatching the ball into the right corner to level the game with plenty of time remaining.
With the momentum now firmly in their grasp, Reading took advantage of their intense start to the half and found themselves in front not long after the equaliser.
Completing a remarkable turnaround, Harries got on the scoresheet with the pick of the bunch in what turned out to be the winning goal.
Deanne Rose got down the left touchline and dinked in a cross towards the Reading academy product who connected on the volley with a sublime finish that found the top left hand corner.
The hosts could have had a fourth when Evans was first to meet Woodham’s corner, but she was denied by Ramsey in the Blues goal.
The next chance then came the way of Sanne Troelsgaard after Faye Bryson delivered a well placed corner, but the midfielder got a tad too much on her header that flew over the bar.
Birmingham came close to grabbing an equaliser when Ryan-Doyle looked to poach on a chance at the back post, but Troelsgaard was excellently placed to make a vital challenge.
Reading held onto their lead to take the points to continue their fantastic form to put them in sixth place on 19 points after four straight victories in the league.
The Royals are in FA Women’s Cup action next weekend away at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Reading Women: Moloney, Bryson, Harding, Evans, Woodham, Troelsgaard, Vanhaevermaet, Eikeland, Harries, Rose, Dowie
Subs: Stewart, Roberts, Lister, Baigent, MacDonald, Primmer, Poulter
Birmingham City Women: Ramsey, Lawley, Quinn, Scott, Finn, Quinn, Murray, Sarri, Holloway, Smith, Pennock
Subs: Robertson, Ewens, Whipp, Ryan-Doyle, Whelan, Jenner, Jones, Cowie, Worsey
Goals: Lawley 3’, Pennock 36’, Vanhaevermaet 45+4’, Dowie (pen) 48’, Harries 55’
