Reading FC Women 1
Manchester City Women 2
LAUREN BRUTON admitted Reading Women were unlucky not to come away from Wedensday’s game against league leaders Manchester City with any points.
Royals’ winless streak now stands at 10 games following this reverse at Adams Park, where a goal in both halves from Isobel Christiansen and substitute Toni Duggan saw the visitors extend their lead atop of FAWSL 1 to seven points.
A late rally from Reading would result in Bruton cutting the arrears from the penalty spot, but their efforts to try and go on and force the issue even further ran out of time.
“I thought we did exceptionally well,” said the goalscorer.
“We kept them at bay for a good while. We stopped them playing through us, which was our game plan, and we frustrated them.
“When we did get the ball we broke on the counter and we did have chances, especially in the first half.
“They’ve got the quality to break us down, so when they have so many chances they’re going to score at some point.”
But Bruton added: “We frustrated them tonight and we’re unlucky to come out with no points.”
The result leaves the hosts still searching for their first win upon promotion to the top flight, but they do have a six-point cushion between themselves and the drop zone.
They fell behind to the table-toppers on 38 minutes when an unmarked Christiansen – making her 50th appearance for the club – nodded home a Nikita Parris cross from six yards.
A Reading attack led solely by Jade Boho-Sayo would spurn a number of chances created on the counter attack, but those of a clear cut variety were few and far between.
The one goal would continue to separate the sides until 10 minutes from time where failure to clear a corner would result in England international Duggan lashing the ball home from the edge of the box.
City appeared to have the game wrapped up, only to be given food for thought when Emma Folis was grounded in the area by Parris, with Bruton stepping up and tucking the resulting spot kick in the bottom corner.
But with only seconds left on the clock, the hosts were unable to go on and notch the equaliser midfielder Bruton felt they deserved.
Kelly Chambers’ side are now not in action until Sunday, August 28, where they will be up against the same opposition at the Academy Stadium (2pm).
READING FC: Earps, Jane, Hines, McGee (c), Folis, Allen (Fletcher 82), Bruton, Roche (Walkley 64), Boho-Sayo, Perry, Rowe
Subs not used: Bartrip, Stobbs, Ward, Jones, Sansom
Goal: Bruton 88
MANCHESTER CITY: Bardsley, Bronze, Stokes, Middag (Walsh 61), Beattie, Houghton (c), Scott (Corboz 82), Christiansen, Stanway (Duggan 74), Ross, Parris
Subs not used: Toone, Hourihan
Goals: Christiansen 38, Duggan 80
Booked: Walsh
Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 592
