Reading surrendered a second half two goal lead as Bristol City fought back to come away with a point after scoring a late equaliser.
A crowd of 1,420 turned out to support their side at the Madejski Stadium on what was celebrated as Women’s Football Weekend.
The Royals made a fast start to the match showing no sign of nerves in front of the Madejski crowd with Remi Allen opening the scoring in the 17th minute. Reading started their attack from the back and after a misplaced clearing header from Bristol, Allen raced through on goal and calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner.
Reading then remarkably doubled their lead just a minute later as Brooke Chaplen latched onto a through ball and showed brilliant composure to push the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper Sohpie Baggaley before putting the ball into an unguarded net.
The visitors showed strong resilience as they began to grow into the game to calm the early Royals storm after the hosts had threatened to put the game out of sight in the early stages and they were rewarded for their positive play just before half time.
Charlie Wellings put Bristol on the scoresheet in the 37th minute as she controlled a cross and spun superbly in a quick movement to strike the ball into Grace Moloney’s bottom left hand corner, leaving the Royals keeper with no chance.
It seemed as if order was restored early in the second half when Angharad James connected with Fara Williams’ corner and glanced a header into the corner to give Reading a two goal cushion for the second time in the match, scoring her first goal since joining the Royals in the summer.
But a lapse in concentration allowed the plucky visitors to strike back almost immediately. Ebony Salmon burst into the box and crossed for Yana Daniels who bundled the ball over the line at the near post to continue the entertaining spectacle at the Madejski.
Having created plenty of chances to wrap up the game, Kelly Chambers would be left frustrated as her side lacked a cutting edge to kill Bristol off. Allen missed two good chances before Leine failed to hit the target with her header.
Encouraged by Reading’s failure to capitalise on their chances, Bristol showed great determination and completed the turnaround as they found an 83rd minute equaliser to round off the scoring.
18-year-old forward Salmon, who had caused problems all afternoon to the Royals defence, broke away and flicked the ball past Moloney before tapping the ball into the net despite Reading’s best efforts to make a goal line clearance.
That would be the sixth and final goal of the pulsating fixture as Reading had to settle for just a point against Bristol, who have still yet to win a FA WSL league fixture this season.
Chambers’ side remain in 7th in the league table with a game in hand still to play on all of the teams above them in the division.
Reading play Crystal Palace in the FA WSL Cup on Thursday evening before they travel away to face West Ham United on Sunday.
