![Reading Festival has laid out its Look Out For The Planet pledge ahead of its return next week, bringing measures set to promote sustainability. Picture: Luke Dyson [LukeDyson.com]](https://wokingham.today/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Img1871502-360x180.jpg)
READING FC WOMEN lost out at home to Manchester City after two own goals from Royals captain Emma Mukandi.
After a goalless first-half in which Reading managed to restrict City’s front line, the scored twice in quick succession after the restart.
Mukandi diverted the ball into her own net on two occasions to give City a commanding lead.
Women’s Super League top scorer Bunny Shaw ensured City would take three points when she nodded in a third 15 minutes from time.
The defeat sees Reading drop back down to 11th position.
Kelly Chambers made one switch from Reading’s dramatic late win over Leicester City last weekend which saw midfielder Sanne Troeslagaard come into the side for her first start of the season in place of Natasha Dowie.
The half followed the pattern of the visitors having plenty of the ball, but not finding the cutting edge to do anything with it.
Despite having 80% possession in the first-half, City were unable to breach the Royals defence.
Lionesses star Lauren Hemp caused Reading plenty of issues down the left wing which saw her get in behind the back line on several occasions.
After a Hemp cutback, Laura Coombs missed the chance to hit the target when she sliced her shot wide.
Hemo this time went for goal herself when she drove down the left and struck a powerful drive that flew inches over the top, but Royals goalkeeper Jackie Burns appeared to have it covered.
Reading had to make some last ditch interventions to stop Bunny Shaw from having a clear sight of goal.
First Diane Caldwell cut out a cross which looked destined for Shaw before Gemma Evans made a heroic block.
Hayley Russo had the final chance of the half for City when she showed excellent footwork to nutmeg a defender to break into the box but she could only force a relatively comfortable stop from Burns.
City broke the deadlock just seven minutes after the restart when Emma Mukandi turned the ball into her own net.
Hemp was again the architect when she whipped in a dangerous cross and with Russo lurking, Mukandi tried to steer the ball out for a corner but inadvertently sent the ball into her own goal.
With an hour gone, the Cityzens took full control of the contest when they doubled their lead after a second own goal from Mukandi.
Hemp charged into the box and forced an excellent save from Burns and the Royals skipper was unfortunate to see the rebound strike her leg and find the net from close range.
Chambers made a change in reaction to the second goal which saw Tia Primmer replace Justine Vanhaevermaet.
A second change five minutes later saw Deanne Cooper take the place of Faye Bryson.
Rowe tried to work her magic to get the Royals back into the contest when she fired a shot goalwards from outside the box and won her side a corner after Sandy MacIver turned the ball behind.
Reading won three corners in quick succession but City stayed organised to clear and maintain their clean sheet.
From the aftermath of the third corner, Rowe tried an audacious effort from 30 yards with a shot that was just inches away from looping into the top corner, but landed on the roof of the net.
City ensured the points would be going back to Manchester when they found their third of the afternoon.
Mary Fowler got down the left byline, cut back and delivered a cross for Shaw who obliged with the finish by heading past Burns.
Reading: Burns, Bryson, Mukandi (c), Evans, Caldwell, Woodham, Vanhaevermaet, Troelsgaard, Rowe, Wellings, Eikeland
Subs: Poulter, Wade, Jane, Dowie, Cooper, Meadows-Tuson, Primmer
Man City: MacIver, Gasparij, Aleixandri, Morgan (c), Stokes, Hasegawa, Castellanos, Coombs, Raso, Shaw, Hemp
Subs: Roebuck, Greenwood, Houghton, Fowler, Kelly, Angeldahl, Ouahabi, Hutchings, Blakstad
Goals: Mukandi 53’ (og), 60’ (og), Shaw 76’
