READING WOMEN survived a second-half red card to goalkeeper Mary Earps to see off Sunderland Ladies 2-0 to climb back up to third in the WSL 1 table.
Goals from Fara Williams and Rachel Furness gave the Royals the lead at the break and they looked to be closing out the victory with relative ease.
But with 15 minutes to go, Earps was sent off was handling outside the box to give Sunderland some hope.
However, replacement keeper Grace Moloney had little to do as the visitors held on to pick up all three points.
Both sides struggled to test the opposition keeper for much of the first half with Lauren Bruton and Jo Potter firing off target for the Royals.
At the other end, Lucy Staniforth wasted a good opportunity after intercepting a weak backpass, but the Reading defence got back to cover.
With the first half seemingly drifting towards a goalless conclusion, Reading got their noses in front on 39 minutes when Williams broke forwards from the left, gliding infield before clipping the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper Rachael Laws from the edge of the box.
And within moments that lead was doubled when Furness let fly from 22 yards against her former club, brilliantly smashing into the top corner.
That advantage was almost added to five minutes after the restart when in-form Remi Allen found space on the left, but her shot bobbled agonisingly wide of the post.
Sunderland grew into the contest as the second half wore on and could have pulled a goal back after a short backpass by Potter was latched onto by Staniforth, but Earps made a vital interception to tip the ball clear.
And the game took a twist with 15 minutes to play when goalkeeper Earps was controversially sent off after charging out of her box and a shot hit her arm on the way through. The referee adjudged Earps to have denied a clear scoring opportunity and, despite her protests, she was given her marching orders.
But sub Moloney was not troubled as Reading professionally saw out the victory, a fifth in six games, which moves them up to third in the league for a few hours at least.
The Royals are next in action on Saturday, May 12 when they welcome Liverpool Ladies to Madejski Stadium.
READING: Earps; Rowe, Pearce (c), Potter, Harding (Scott 89); Furness, Allen, Moore; Bruton, F. Williams, Chaplen (Moloney 79).
Subs not used: Jane, Green, Linnett, Fletcher.
Goals: Williams (39), Furness (41)
Red card: Earps (75)
SUNDERLAND: Laws, V. Williams, Sharp, Stewart, Sjoman, Lipka, Wyne, Bruinenberg, Staniforth (c), Ramshaw, Galloway.
Subs not used: Preuss, Joice, Koren, Lambert, Mullen, Griffiths.
