Reading Women 0-5 Oxford City Women: Match Report

A day to forget for the Royals in their first home game of the season.

Reading Women were dealt another harsh lesson this afternoon as they continue to learn and adapt to life in the Southern Region Football League. Visitors Oxford City showed no mercy, running out 0-5 winners, spoiling the Royals’ inaugural home match at Arbour Park, Slough.

Although the Royals were trailing 0-1 at half-time, it was Oxford’s blistering start to the second half which saw the team in blue and white hoops concede three goals within 10 minutes of the restart, leaving Reading with a near-impossible task to get something out of the match.

Even before kick-off, the Reading fans - who turned out in impressive numbers - knew it would be a difficult afternoon. Reading manager Pedro Bruno was once again only able to field a squad of 12 players (from the 16 currently registered).

Laura Palfrey and Santearna Spencer, who both played in last weekend’s match against Sholing, were unavailable due to injury. There were however a couple of new faces, with debuts for Chloe Sykes and Lauren Drewett - both starting the match, and Leylah Ali, once again starting from the substitutes bench.

Reading: Mia Donovan (GK), Lauren Drewett, Lily Brooke, Tia Lee, Mia Bradley, Rosie Robinson, Caitlin Levy, Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins (Captain), Keira Morl, Zuzanna Gajzler, Chloe Sykes

Substitutions: 20 mins: Leylah Ali on for Caitlin Levy and 65 minutes: Caitlin Levy returning to the pitch, for Chloe Sykes

The Royals were up against an Oxford City team that’s started the season well: undefeated with a draw (1-1 at Sholing) and win (2-1 at home to Winchester City Flyers). It’s also a club that knows this league well, finishing a respectable fourth last season (improving on their earlier sixth- and eighth-place finishes).

Although there wasn’t much between the teams in the first half, it was the visitors who had the better of the chances and applied more attacking presence, with five corners, and threatening the Royals’ goal with some great long-range efforts.

Reading held steadfast for the opening 30 minutes and were unlucky when a looping effort from captain Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins dipped but, unfortunately, landed on the netting of the Oxford City goal. The hosts also had a goal ruled out for offside, after some great play down the Royals’ left wing by Zuzanna Gajzler.

On the half-hour mark, City scored the opening goal with an impressive long-range strike, direct from a free-kick by Billie Bough-French. She caught Reading ‘keeper Mia Donovan slightly off her line to give the visitors in red the lead. 0-1.

Half time: 0-1

Whatever Oxford City manager Connor Walton said to his players at half-time worked. The Royals were on the back foot from the restart, shell-shocked, having conceded three goals before they could even get going again.

Within seconds of the kick-off, City’s number 12 Kaity Crouch blasted a good chance high over the crossbar. She didn’t have to wait long however, pouncing on a mistake from Reading defender Tia Lee to rifle a shot past the Reading goalkeeper from within the penalty area. 0-2.

Still Oxford came again and showed no mercy, this time with captain Georgina Tayman controlling a cross from the right to slot home, from a tight angle, at the back post. 0-3.

With Reading on the ropes, City continued their relentless and ruthless opening. Kaity Crouch grabbed her second of the afternoon, picking up the ball to strike home a shot from the edge of the Reading penalty area after Royals ‘keeper Donovan had blocked an earlier effort. 0-4.

Reading at last managed to regain some composure and saw out much of the remainder of the half, surviving more scares. City hit the post a couple of times and a clearance off the line by Lee kept the score respectable - right up until the last few minutes when Oxford’s Ella White was just too quick for the Reading defence, coolly finishing with a shot into the far corner for a 0-5 scoreline.

It was a tough watch and experience for all involved with the new-look Reading side. At the moment it’s not a level playing field: the Reading squad are still only getting to know one another, without the game time or the luxury of rolling substitutions - as utilised extremely well by Reading’s opponents today.

If there are any silver linings, it’s that the players never appeared to lose their heads, get down-hearted or give up - with some great passages of play, albeit no opening goal to show - as of yet!

Next week sees a break from the league, with the Royals travelling to Brackley Town for a 2pm kick-off in the FA Cup, second-round qualifying match (after receiving a bye in the first round). See you there!