READING FC continued their unbeaten start in the Women’s Championship thanks to a dramatic stoppage time leveller from Lauren Wade.
The Royals looked destined for their first defeat of the campaign until Wade struck in the 96th minute to earn Reading a point on the road.
The draw means that Reading are in eighth spot after drawing in all three of their opening matches.
Reading were seeking to pick up their first victory of the season, while both sides went into the contest unbeaten.
London City opened their campaign with a draw before they defeated Watford to pick up their first three points of the season.
There were familiar faces among the London City side as Grace Moloney, who made more than 100 appearances for Reading, and striker Danielle Carter both lined up to face their former team.
Liam Gilbert’s team were without last season’s top scorer Sanne Troelsgaard who is serving a suspension after being sent off in last weekend’s goalless draw with Charlton Athletic.
That meant that Halle Houssein, who joined Reading on a season long loan from West Ham, was given the nod to make her debut.
During a hot afternoon in the capital, the sides were evenly matched for much of the half, despite City enjoying more possession.
London went close to opening the scoring when an attack saw Carter and Grace Neville combined before Ruesha Littlejohn forced a save from Reading keeper Emily Orman.
It was the hosts who made the breakthrough right on the stroke of half-time when Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah met a cross to put her team in front.
The visitors went hunting for an equaliser after the restart and came close through Lauren Wade who smacked an effort over the top.
Wade was the first player to go into the referee’s notebook when she was cautioned for committing a late tackle.
Orman was forced into action on a few occasions to prevent London from extending their lead as she kept out strikes from both Nevielle and Lois Joel.
City came agonisingly close to extending their lead through Maddi Wilde, but were denied by the offside flag which came to Reading’s rescue.
Reading tested the resolve of London with an indirect free-kick, but the home team stayed organised to clear Lily Woodham’s delivery.
Gilbert’s first change of the match saw Amelia Elwood replace Josie Longhurst.
A second change was made for the final five minutes as Freya Meadows Tuson replaced Deanna Cooper.
With the game coming to a close, Reading made sure that they would return with a point after Lauren Wade scored deep into stoppage time to salvage a result.
Next up for Gilbert’s team is a home match against Southampton at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Sunday (12pm kick-off).
London City: Moloney, Neville, Brougham, Joel, Schofield, Satchell, Fitzgerald, Carter, Wilde, Littlejohn, Boye-Hlorkah
Subs: Hillyerd, O’Neill, Groves, Farrelly, Alexander, Dolby, Fraser
Reading: Orman, Dugdale, Hendrix, Mayi Kith, Houssein, Roberts, Cooper, Estcourt, Longhurst, Woodham, Wade
Subs: Kite, Meadows Tuson, Elwood, Wilson, Kennedy, Cox, Rasmussen
Goals: Boye-Hlorkah 45’, Wade 90+6’
