Reading Women slipped to seventh in the WSL table after a disappointing defeat to West Ham United Women at Madejski Stadium.
In a game of few chances, the Hammers led 2-0 thanks to a goal in each half from Switzerland international Alisha Lehmann.
Fara Williams pulled a goal back from the penalty spot to set up an exciting finish but the Royals could not grab an equaliser in front of over 2,000 fans with the defeat seeing them fall behind West Ham in the table.
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Kelly Chambers named an unchanged side from the one which started Sunday’s FA Cup win over Birmingham, meaning goalscorers Kirsty Pearce and Rakel Honnudottir again had to make do with a spot on the bench.
Both sides came into the contest struggling for league form, Reading winless in four and West Ham losing each of their past three, and it showed during the early stages.
The Hammers started the brighter of the two sides but shots from Jane Ross, Leanne Kiernan and Katie Longhurst caused little trouble.
Reading’s best chance of the half arrived on 14 minutes when Williams teed up Lauren Bruton in the centre, but the attacking midfielder took too long to shoot and was challenged.
And the deadlock was broken at the other end soon after in the only moment of real quality in the half when Cho So-hyun threaded the ball through for Lehmann, who tucked past Grace Moloney one-on-one.
The hosts did have one final chance to level before the break when Williams’ corner was met by the head of Rachel Furness, but goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse tipped over.
Reading looked fired up after the restart and went close in the opening minute of the half when Jade Moore fired straight at the goalkeeper.
West Ham responded and went close when Kiernan broke down the left and delivered a low cross, which was parried away by Moloney.
And the second goal duly followed as 20-year-old Lehmann broke in again less than 10 minutes after the restart, slamming high into the net and past Moloney.
Chambers immediately turned to her bench, introducing Sunday’s hero Honnudottir in place of Chaplen up front.
And the change had the desired effect as the Icelandic forward won a penalty soon after coming on after being clipped by goalkeeper Moorhouse. Up stepped Williams, who found the bottom corner from the spot despite the keeper guessing correctly.
That goal seemed to spark Reading into life and they came close to equalising with 20 minutes to play when Honnudottir pulled the ball across for Remi Allen, whose shot was blocked from close range.
But after that initial rally it was the visitors who looked the more likely scorers with Brooke Hendrix heading just wide.
However, two goals were enough for West Ham to claim all three points.
READING: Moloney; Harding, Bartrip, Potter (c), Pacheco; Furness, Moore (Pearce 69), Allen; Bruton, Williams; Chaplen (Honnudottir 56).
Subs not used: Laws, Jane, Bailey, Estcourt, Davison.
Goals: Williams (pen) (66)
Yellow card: Allen (82)
WEST HAM: Moorhouse; Percival, Flaherty (c), Hendrix, Simon; Cho, Reichardt (Visalli 74), Longhurst; Lehmann, Kiernan (Sampson 90+1), Ross.
Subs not used: Spencer, Kmita.
Goals: Lehmann x2 (20,54)
Referee: Rebecca Welch
Attendance: 2,148
