Reading FC Women’s record breaking winning run in the Women’s Super League came to a disappointing end with defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Royals were soundly beaten by the Seagulls who controlled the match and fired four in four goals courtesy of two from Kayliegh Green and one each from Aileen Whelan and Emma Kiovisto.
Amalie Eikeland salvaged a late consolation goal as the Royals suffered their first WSL loss since October.
It brings an end to Reading’s incredible run of eight league games without defeat.
They drop down a place into sixth in the table after Manchester City beat their rivals Manchester United earlier in the day.
Kelly Chambers’ team were looking to extend their magnificent form with five Women’s Super League wins on the bounce coming into the contest at Brighton.
The Royals boss was forced into one change as Justine Vanhaevermaet missed out and was replaced by recent goalscoring hero Tia Primmer. She netted a winner against Brighton in the FA Cup and followed up the week after with the winning goal away at Everton in the league.
The hosts started with promise despite coming into the game in poor form.after they sprung quickly into attack after Gemma Evans surrendered possession for Reading in her own half.
Aileen Whelan had the first pop at goal and had goalkeeper Grace Moloney scrambling across her line as the ball whistled just past the far post.
The visitors replied with a chance of their own when the ball dropped invitingly for Sanne Troelsgaard who took aim through a host of bodies but missed the target.
Natasha Dowie spotted a gap in the Brighton backline in what should have been a promising attack, but her strike partner Deanne Rose slightly misplaced her pass to take Dowie too far out wide which allowed the Seagulls to regroup.
But it was mainly one way traffic throughout the first-half with waves of attack coming from the home side.
Gemma Evans and Moloney had to defend resolutely to clear from threatening positions.
But Hope Powell’s team were rewarded for their positive play in the 19th minute when they breached the Royals defence.
An inswinging corner delivery was met in the middle by Kayleigh Green who left unattended and took advantage by nodding the ball in from close distance.
Brighton continued to dominate having taken the lead and had several corners throughout the half that caused Reading issues at the back as Faye Bryson and captain Natasha Haridng had to come to the rescue with clearing headers.
The hosts should have doubled their lead when another excellent set piece delivery found Megan Connolly at the back post but she couldn’t hit the target with her header.
The Royals looked to punish Brighton on the counter when Lily Woodham stretched to try and reach a through ball in the box and went down claiming a penalty from Megan Walsh’s challenge, but the referee deemed there to be no contact and booked Woodham for simulation.
Moloney had to come to her side’s rescue to keep the deficit down as the Royals looked desperate for some respite at the half-time break. She made an outstanding stop with lightning quick reflexes to tip Connolly’s powerful header over the top.
The Seagulls had the ball in the net from another teasing corner delivery only for the goal to be chalked off for a foul on Dowie in the box from Victoria Williams with the Royals counting themselves fortunate to only be one goal down at the break.
Chambers made a switch at the restart with Rachel Rowe coming on in midfield to replace Primmer.
Brighton almost found a second, quick after the restart, when Whelan’s mishit cross looped over Moloney and hit the top of the crossbar.
Reading replied with their best opening of the match when Dowie used her strength to hold the ball in the box and then spun to deliver a dangerous ball across the face of goal. The ball fell for Rowe to hit but Brighton got a body in the way.
Albion deservedly doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute when Ellie Brazil glided past Bryson on the left-wing, slid the ball through to Green and she poked the ball into the far corner with a smart finish.
Corners continued to cause havoc in the Reading box and it led to Brighton’s third goal of the afternoon after Whelan got the decisive touch following a goalmouth scramble.
It didn’t take long for the hoe side to add a fourth as they took total control of the contest, with the scoreline reflecting their dominance when Koivisto spun in the box and fired a shot in at the near post.
Reading clawed back a consolation goal late in the day when Amalie Eikeland’s cross sailed over Walsh’s head and nestled into the corner.
Brighton: Walsh, Le Tissier, Kerkdijk, Williams, Kullberg, Connolly, Green, Koivisto, Kaagman, Whelan, Brazil
Subs: Carter, Simpkins, Zigiotto Olme, Bance, Geum-Min, Startup, Bowman, Symonds, Gibbons
Reading: Moloney, Bryson, Harding (c), Evans, Woodham, Troelsgaard, Primmer, Eikeland, Harries, Rose, Dowie
Subs: Peplow, Rowe, Poulter, Joslyn, Roberts, Thomann, Cooper, Stewart
Goals: Green 20’, 52’, Whelan 60’, Koivisto 68’, Eikeland 88’
