Oxford City Women 1-4 Reading Women: Match Report

Tia Johnson and Tyra Wilson both netted braces as the Royals continued their strong league form.

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Reading Women followed up last weekend’s impressive performance

with another 4-1 victory, this time at Oxford City yesterday. Two goals apiece from Tia Johnson and half-time substitute Tyra Wilson – in between a City goal from Billie Bough-French – sealed an important three points in the Royals’ first away match of 2026.

That’s the third league victory on the bounce for Reading. It’s an impressive winning streak which, I believe, hasn’t been replicated since 2021/22, when a rampant Royals side went

unbeaten in a run of eight matches in the WSL, with scalps including Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton (different times).

These were the first goals Reading have scored against Oxford City in this league, after a couple of disastrous results last season.

It’s also a result that can firmly put to bed the spectre of that horrible 10-0 defeat here at the MGroup (March 2025) when, with no other substitutes, ex-Reading goalkeeper Cherry Preisner played the second half as a centre-forward.

Similar to a few teams in the division, Oxford City are struggling to play their league matches, with only one such fixture since the turn of the year: a 2-1 defeat at the hands of leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

They’ve had a mixed bag of results to date, notching up 12 points from three wins, three defeats and three draws at the time of kick-off – but saw success last weekend in the Chairman’s Cup (a competition Reading are not involved in), with a 3-2 victory over tier-six side Wimborne Town.

There were two changes from the Reading side which beat Beaconsfield Town last weekend. Johnson and Nat Cowell returned to the starting XI, with Lucy Bolitho and Georgia Hayes named among the substitutes.

Team: Sophie Butler (GK), Poppy Whitburn (Keren Banduka, 79’), Sarah Thompson, Keziah Banduka (Lucy Bolitho 74’), Bethan Poole (Ellie Manners, 5’), Jazz King, Mia Parker (captain), Emmi Tong, Nat Cowell (Georgia Hayes, 74’), Keren Banduka (Tyra Wilson, 45’), Tia Johnson (Assia Fatri, 79’)

Reading goalscorers: Tia Johnson, 28’, 45+2’; Tyra Wilson, 59’, 90’

Oxford City goalscorers: Billie Bough-French, 56’

Reading yellow cards: Tia Johnson, 56’; Ellie Tong, 69’; Tyra Wilson, 70’

Oxford City yellow cards: Reese Ayres, 11’; Yasmin Edwards, 90’

Reading red cards: None

Oxford City red cards: None

First half

Oxford City boasted a lively front three, as Reading found out immediately, with Thompson called into early action to make two important blocks. She denied City top scorers Ellie White (14 goals) and Yasmin Edwards (12 goals) within the opening 30 seconds, with the hosts winning their first corner of the match.

There was more defensive concern for Reading when, just five minutes in, manager Ed Jackson-Norris was forced into his first change after Poole suffered a head injury and had to come off. Manners came on and slotted into the right-back position, with Whitburn moving over to the left.

As Reading looked to reorganise and settle, Oxford threatened again. Edwards came close, her shot fired from an angle into the side netting.

A foul on Reading forward Keren Banduka – and resultant yellow card for City defender Reese Ayres – earned the Royals their first attempt at goal. King’s free-kick was met by the head of Keziah Banduka, but the finish was over the crossbar.

20 minutes in and Reading were still on the back foot, just about doing enough to control the City forwards.

There was another scare when Oxford looked to have opened the scoring: White playing in Edwards, only to see her tidy finish ruled out for offside.

As the half-hour approached, Reading got the break they wanted. First, Keren Banduka went close, getting onto the end of a great cross from Thompson, before Johnson broke the deadlock. In a move that was worked across the width of the pitch, King’s central pass found Johnson on the Reading left, who cut in and drilled a low shot to catch out City ‘keeper Keira Maskell at the near post. 0-1.

In horrible, rainy conditions, the Reading defence stayed strong to clear more City corners and pressure before doubling the lead in time added onto the first half.

It was Johnson again who made no mistake, her fierce strike giving the goalkeeper no chance as it flew into the far corner. 0-2.

Half-time: 0-2

Jackson-Norris isn’t afraid to use his substitutes. He made his second change during the break, introducing Swindon dual-registered player Wilson in a straight swap for Keren Banduka: for which he was duly rewarded in the second half.

It was Oxford again who, from the restart, won a couple of early battles, winning a corner and firing a dangerous shot which sailed over the crossbar.

King and Cowell combined well to set up a chance for the Royals, denied by some great last-ditch defending from Ayres in the City back line.

With Reading looking comfortable in protecting their lead, Oxford grabbed a goal back from a long-range set-piece. City captain Bough-French stepped up to fire home a 25-yard effort which flew over the hands of Reading goalkeeper Butler and into the top of the goal. 1-2.

In a ‘whatever you can do’ moment just three minutes later, Wilson – collecting the ball from Johnson – unleashed an unstoppable long-range effort of her own to restore Reading’s two-goal advantage. 1-3.

Although City looked to get themselves back into the match, the damage had been done.

With the rain continuing to fall, the floodlights came on and Jackson-Norris took the opportunity to utilise his substitutes. There was another injury-forced change towards the end, with Keren Banduka reintroduced for Whitburn, who limped off.

As the referee indicated (shouted) eight minutes of added time to be played (there are no light-up boards in tier five), Wilson completed her brace. Having latched onto a cross-field ball from captain Parker, she coolly finished and wrapped up another win that I’m sure will raise the eyebrows of the surrounding teams. 1-4.

Full-time: 1-4

It was another performance to be proud of with the defence, midfield and forward line all ‘doing their jobs’, as I’m sure the coaching team would say.

Manning, thrown into the deep end at right-back, more than stood up to the task, alongside a robust defence marshalled by Thompson. The midfield trio of Parker, King and Tong brought an individually different – but collectively complimentary – dynamic.

And there’s pace upfront with Keren Banduka and Johnson. Cowell acts as a pivot to bring players into the game – when she’s not banging in the goals herself (with 11 goals already).

Reading have always had grit, resilience and character, but they’ve now added a ruthlessness and execution to kill off a match and shut down the opposition.

With Beaconsfield Town drawing against Winchester City Flyers, Reading have now catapulted themselves into third place, level on 22 points with both. There’s still a lot to be played out with teams around them now having games in hand, but the Royals have deservedly got themselves back into the mix to set up an exciting finish to the season.

After four consecutive matches at home, Reading now find themselves on a run of four away games, with a League Cup quarter-final next weekend against Larkspur Rovers, who play in Division 1 North, in tier six of the Southern Region League.