READING FC WOMEN were denied a valuable point after Rachel Williams netted a late winner to continue Manchester United’s title charge in the Women’s Super League.
Royals keeper Jackie Burns came up with a heroic penalty save from Katie Zelem in the first-half.
With Reading on the brink of taking a point, it was taken away from them by Williams’ decisive goal in the 87th minute.
The defeat leaves Reading in 10th position on seven points from 12 games.
Heading into her 150th game in charge of the Royals, manager Kelly Chambers was greeted by a record crowd at the Select Car Leasing Stadium which saw more than 5,000 people in attendance.
Chambers made four changes after Reading’s defeat to Everton last weekend which saw Charlie Wellings, Diane Caldwell, Rachel Rowe and Lily Woodham all return to the starting line-up.
Justine Vanhaevermaet came inches away from scoring a spectacular opener when her looping effort from 50 yards caused Mary Earps to backpedal as she gratefully watched the ball drop onto the roof of her net.
Reading worked a good opening when Sanne Troelsgaard spotted a gap and threaded an excellent through ball in the box to Emma Harries who tested Earps from a tight angle which the keeper was able to push behind for a corner.
The resulting corner was well met by Vanahevermaet who towered above the United defence only to see her header go straight down the path of Earps who gathered comfortably.
After making a slow start, United started to turn the screw and Lucia Garcia almost profited from Nikita Parris’ cross that was fumbled by Burns, but the ball dropped wide of the post.
The visitors’ next big chance fell again to Garcia after Alessia Russo slotted the ball to find her run, but Burns stood tall to parry her goalbound effort away.
Mark Skinner’s side were awarded a penalty kick in the 37th minute when Caldwell raced across to try and close down Russo, but the striker got a touch on the ball before she was tripped by the defender, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot.
Zelem took responsibility from 12 yards but she was denied by Burns who flew low to her right with a stunning save to make her second penalty save of the season. She then gathered the rebound before she was mobbed by her teammates.
The Red Devils almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time when the ball dropped kindly for Parris in the box and she unleashed a thunderous hit that crashed off the top of the crossbar.
United continued their search to break the deadlock early in the second-half with chances that saw Russo go close on two occasions only to be thwarted by an inspired Burns performance in the Reading goal.
The hosts responded with a chance of their own when Woodham’s inswinging cross from a free-kick was glanced on by Vanhaevermaet and with the ball headed for the far corner, Earps reacted superbly to keep it out.
With unjust three minutes left on the clock, United’s persistence finally paid off as Reading were cruelly denied what would have been a hard earned point.
A deflection in the box allowed Williams to control and she showed immense composure to drift past two tackles before firing a rocket into the top corner past a helpless Burns.
The result leaves Reading just four points above the relegation zone, while 11th place Brighton have three games in hand and bottom side Leicester have two in hand.
United continue their search for the WSL title with a win that puts them top of the table after both Chelsea and Arsenal’s matches were postponed this weekend.
Reading are in FA Cup action this coming weekend with an away trip to fellow relegation rivals Leicester.
Reading: Burns, Mukandi (c), Evans, Caldwell, Woodham, Vanhaevermaet, Troelsgaard, Rowe, Eikeland, Harries, Wellings
Subs: Moloney, Poulter, Bryson, Dowie, Wade, Jane, Primmer
Man United: Earps, Battle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell, Zelem, Ladd, Garcia, Toone, Parris, Russo
Subs: Thorisdottir, Mannion, Boe Risa, Thomas, Leon, Tounkara, Williams, Baggaley
Goals: Williams 87’
