READING FC WOMEN’s hopes for Women’s Super League survival took a huge hit after they lost to Leicester City in the 96th minute.
Carrie Jones won the game to lift the Foxes off the bottom and boost their hopes of surviving the relegation scrap, while Reading’s job was made significantly more difficult.
Charlie Wellings struck just before half-time to cancel out Sam Tierney’s opener, but Leicester deservedly took the points in stoppage time from Jones’ winner.
The result leaves Reading just two points above the drop zone. Bottom of the table Brighton have two games in hand, while the Foxes are one point behind the Royals with five games to go.
On the back of clawing a result against Brighton last week after going two goals behind, the Royals faced another monumental clash against a relegation rival in the Women’s Super League.
Reading started the day four points ahead of the Foxes, with the hosts desperately needing some points to improve their chances of survival.
After scoring two goals as a substitute against Brighton, forward Emma Harries was handed a start by manager Kelly Chambers, while Brooke Hendrix started at the back in place of Gemma Evans who dropped to the bench.
The Royals won the first corner of the match when Sanne Troelsgaard ventured forward and the home side stayed organise to clear the early danger.
Reading had plenty of chances to launch the ball into the danger zone from set pieces, but weren’t able to take advantage from them.
Leicester tried their luck for the first time in the match when Hannah Cain unleashed an effort to try and test Grace Moloney, but Jade Moore got her head in the way to turn it behind for a corner.
The resulting set-piece carved out a half chance for Sophie Howard who headed wide of the mark.
After a spell of stoppages through injury which saw the game regularly broken up, Charlie Wellings came close to breaking the deadlock.
Rachel Rowe’s inswinging free-kick was met by Wellings free at the back post and Janina Letizig got across to parry it behind for a corner.
Just after surviving that scare, Leicester grabbed the lead in the 20th minute when Sam Tierney connected with Courtney Nevin’s cross to the back post and volleyed into the corner.
Searching for an equaliser before the break, Harries came striding through the heart of midfield and laid off for Amalie Eikeland to take a strike, who missed the target altogether from 25 yards.
Lily Woodham picked up a booking for simulation after going to ground on the left wing before Moloney clutched a skidding shot from CJ Bott.
Heading into stoppage time in the first-half, Reading claimed a vital leveller.
Rowe’s cross was held up by Harries for Eikeland to shoot and after her effort was blocked it fell into the path of Wellings who smacked the ball into the net with an emphatic finish.
A lengthy injury break ensued at the start of the second-half as Rowe was treated by the medical staff, but was able to continue.
Moloney made an important stop to prevent Tierney from adding her second when she stuck her left boot out to block the ball from creeping inside the near post.
Faye Bryson was next to go in the book for a mistimed challenge.
Leicester very nearly re-took the lead when a ball smacked across the face of goal by Carrie Jones struck Harries and squeaked behind for a corner instead of finding the net.
Moloney and Moore combined to keep the ball out from the resulting corner before the Royals keeper took a hit and needed treatment.
The Foxes went agonisingly close to going in front when Remy Siemsen cut in from the left and drove a curling shot which looked to have beaten Moloney but bounced off the post before they followed to convert the rebound.
Moloney came up with a big moment to keep out Cain, but it wasn’t enough to give Reading a point as Leicester took the lead in the 96th minute.
Deep into stoppage time, Jones planted the ball past Moloney into the corner to make it 2-1 to give her team a gigantic win.
Reading are now in danger, two points above bottom side Brighton who have two games in hand and just one point above Leicester.
Reading’s next game is at home against Everton on Sunday, April 23.
Leicester City: Letizig, Bott, Howard, Plumptre, Nevin, Mace, Tierney, Cain, Siemsen, Jones, Whelan
Subs: Eaton-Collins, Pike, Sigsworth, Green, Goodwin, Purfield, Levell, Baker, Robinson
Reading: Moloney, Hendrix, Mukandi, Bryson, Woodham, Moore, Rowe, Eikeland, Troelsgaard, Wellings, Harries
Subs: Evans, Wade, Caldwell, Vanahevermaet, Poulter, Perry, Elwood
Goals: Tierney 20’, Wellings 45’, Jones 90+6’
