MAN CITY WOMEN 0, READING WOMEN 2
Goals by Reading’s Remi Allen and Kirsty Pearce condemned Man City Women, who also lost Jill Scott to injury, to their first home defeat this season but the title remains within reach despite their inability to break down their visitors who were reduced to ten players after the late sending off of Jo Potter.
Mel Lawley was a constant threat down City’s left hand side but it was Nikita Parris who had City’s best chance in the early stages, her shot beaten away by Mary Earps.
Earps did hand a chance to Lawley with a poor goal kick but Lawley’s attempt to centre the ball after dancing into the area were repelled by the Reading defence.
The two wide players for City combined in the 22nd minute with Parris crossing from the right for Lawley only for Earps to concede a corner.
City’s goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck was barely troubled by tame efforts from Brooke Chaplen and Jo Potter but Reading could hardly claim to have been overly worried by City who were a step below their usual intensity.
Remi Allen put Reading into the lead with an audacious overhead kick following a corner conceded by Steph Houghton as the visitors capitalised on some slack defending by City.
Nikita Parris had two chances to level the game, with a goal mouth scramble and a shot tipped behind by Earps as City tried to get the equaliser.
Injury blow for Jill Scott doubles City pain
City were in the wars during this game, with Abbie McManus landing awkwardly earlier in the game but the departure of Jill Scott just before half time with what looked like a painful back injury silenced the Academy Stadium.
She last just three minutes into the second half before she had to go off and was replaced by Izzy Christiansen who had earlier celebrated 100 appearances for City with a presentation before the game.
Nikita Parris’ header came off the bar in the 51st minute – their best effort yet – as Reading went more direct after the departure of Scott.
The introduction of Nadia Nadim for Jane Ross gave City a more physical presence up front and Lawley saw a low shot tipped away in the 59th minute by Earps.
Roebuck saved from Chaplen again from a Reading corner but City converted a follow-up corner when Royals captain Kirsty Pearce bundled the ball in.
Claire Emslie was immediately sent on for Lawley and Nadim was robbed of the ball by Rachel Rowe in the Reading area as City tried to pull one back.
Nadim also curled a shot wide after Abbie McManus’ cross found her in space and Georgia Stanway’s long range shooting was below her usual standard.
City were struggling to break down Reading when Jo Potter was harshly sent off for a cynical challenge on Parris who was breaking through on goal with nine minutes to go.
Potter didn’t appear to be the last player, with two other Reading players more centrally placed and closer to Earps’ goal but referee Helen Conley brandished the red card – giving City a glimmer of hope.
City went close with a glancing header by Beattie that went wide in the closing minutes while Parris was beaten to a loose ball through by Earps who bravely went into the challenge.
City couldn’t make the breakthrough as Reading opted to defend what they had, but Chelsea’s surprise draw with Arsenal earlier kept the door open for a race to the WSL title.
MATCH STATS
Man City Women: Roebuck, McManus, Houghton, Beattie, Stokes, Walsh, Parris, Scott (48 Christiansen), Stanway, Lawley (Emslie 62), Ross (Nadim 57)
Man City Women subs not used: Bardsley, Jans, Middag
Reading Women: Earps, Williams, Pearce, Furness, Allen, Bruton, Moore, Chaplen (Green 86), Harding, Potter, Rowe
Reading Women subs not used: Linnett, Fletcher, Moloney, Gaine
Goals: Allen 37, Pearce 61
Booked: Moore 74
Sent off: Potter 81
Attendance: 1274