Reading Women shocked league leaders Wycombe Wanderers to become the first team to take points off them this season, in a tense, hard-fought but entertaining goalless match at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham
on Sunday.
The Royals also became the first team in any competition to not concede against the high-scoring Chairgirls, who’d notched up a total of 56 goals across all matches, conceding just 11.
Wycombe were without a match last weekend after their League Cup game against AFC Varsity was cancelled by their opponents (meaning they automatically progressed to the next round). Instead, the Wanderers coaching team used their free time to see what intelligence they could gather ahead of Sunday’s match, by watching Reading’s 4-1 League Cup victory at Penn & Tylers Green.
Wycombe started the game with maximum points in the league after winning their opening six matches of the season. The Chairgirls had only suffered two defeats to date across all competitions: narrowly defeated 7-6 in two penalty shootouts against Bridgewater United in the FA Cup and Abingdon United in the Berks & Bucks Cup.
The Royals were looking to bounce back from their last league outing: a disappointing 3-1 defeat away to Winchester City Flyers.
Manager Ed Jackson-Norris made three changes to the line-up with centre-back Belle Rowden, midfielder Lucy Bolitho and left-winger Tia Johnson all starting. Ellie Manners and Keziah Banduka rotated to the substitutes bench with Emmi Tong not part of the squad.
Team: Jess Webb (GK), Poppy Whitburn (Keziah Banduka, 80), Belle Rowden, Sarah Thompson, Bethan Poole, Jazz King, Mia Parker, Lucy Bolitho (Assia Fatri, 76), Keren Banduka (Lauren Knight, 90), Nat Cowell (Georgia Hayes, 76), Tia Johnson (Ellie Manners, 83)
Reading goalscorers: None
Wycombe Wanderers goalscorers: None
Reading yellow cards: Lucy Bolitho, 18’
Wycombe Wanderers yellow cards: Jess Watkins, 68’
First half
From kick-off you could sense it was a big match for both sides, with a tense and nervous atmosphere palpable. With the new management team in place and Reading fans now looking up the table, there appears to be a new growing rivalry between the two sides, which is great.
Wycombe certainly have a luxury of talent up front. Three of their forwards are already in double figures: Kayla Potter is the league’s leading goalscorer with 17 in total, with Chloe Melton (13) and Jess Watkins (10) also both within the top five positions.
So it certainly wasn’t a surprise when the home side applied some pressure to test out the Reading defence and resolve during the opening 20 minutes of the match.
Just two minutes in there was a nervy start for the Royals when goalkeeper Webb hesitated a fraction too long, got caught on the ball and was fortunate to see the resulting attempted lob from a Wanderers striker sail over the crossbar.
Wycombe were keen to release their strikers with early long passes. King did well to get back and put Watkins under enough pressure, seeing the Wanderers striker fire her shot over the crossbar.
Potter attempted a quick effort from the edge of the Reading penalty area, her shot wide of the post, and Poole timed her tackle perfectly to slide in and stop another attempt from Watkins on the end of another long pass.
In between, Reading did retaliate when right-back Whitburn was released down the wing, her right-foot shot going wide of the near post.
Halfway through the first 45, with the home side’s initial salvo thwarted, Reading settled, increased the pressure in midfield (Bolitho unlucky to pick up a yellow card) and started to not only get themselves back into the match, but also finish the half in the ascendancy.
Centre-back Thompson had a towering header from the edge of the penalty area, which was caught by Axelle Courlander in the Wycombe goal.
Cowell, Reading’s leading goalscorer (with nine in total), saw her shot from the edge of the area deflected wide for a second Royals corner – from which Keren Banduka went close, her effort just off target.
And Reading finished the half with what looked like a near-perfect free-kick delivery from King. Unfortunately it eluded everyone, with Cowell unable to get her head on it.
Half-time: 0-0
The second half was one pretty much controlled and dominated by Reading, nullifying any attack from the home side, who were clearly not used to it, with their frustrations growing and visible throughout.
Cowell looked to be put through, chasing down on goal, but for a great bit of recovery defending from Chairgirls captain Bobby Lynch to dispossess the Reading striker.
A great bit of play involving Johnson and Cowell released Keren Banduka down the right, her cross/shot saved by Courlander at the near post.
Johnson then fired over the crossbar from a speculative 25-yard effort..
And with 15 minutes remaining, Johnson created an agonisingly close chance to break the deadlock.
The Reading winger slid a ball through to Keren Banduka, who bore down on goal and rounded the Wycombe goalkeeper, only to see her goal-bound finish cleared off the line by Amelia Mulvaney, who appeared to get back from nowhere to save the home side.
As the clock ticked down, Jackson-Norris introduced all of his five substitutes in attempt to get that elusive – but well deserved – goal, with Hayes forcing a late save from the Wycombe goalkeeper in the six-yard box.
Full-time: 0-0
It was a terrific performance from Reading and one which certainly felt like (and would have been but for the late goal-line clearance) a victory at the final whistle.
Reading were strong through the spine of the team. Thompson in control, marshalling the defence; Parker putting in a captain’s ‘leading by example’ performance; alongside combative displays from King and Bolitho; with Cowell (and later Hayes) leading the attack.
And there’s always an attacking threat from wide with full-backs Poole and Whitburn pushing on to support Keren Banduka and Johnson down the flanks.
It’s another big step in the right direction for Reading, who, with a bit more belief and confidence, can really push on and threaten the teams at the top of the table – as they showed on Sunday.
Courlander in the Wycombe goal was certainly the busier of the two keepers. I’m struggling to even think of a really big save from young Reading ‘keeper Webb who, after the opening scare, handled the pressure and occasion superbly.
Most of the scheduled fixtures fell foul of the wet weather, with only one other league match played: Oxford City put in an impressive away display to beat Beaconsfield 6-1.
There was more good news for the Royals with the table being updated overnight to show an additional three points awarded to Reading for an ‘away walkover’ (with no goals awarded for either team) in respect of the postponed Woodley United match back in October, when the opposition were unable to field a team.
That means Reading now sit in sixth place, with a total of 13 points from seven matches.
There’s just one more match to go before the Christmas break. Next weekend, on Sunday December 14 (2pm kick-off), home at Arbour Park, the Royals will be looking to close in on Southampton Women, who currently sit second (17 points), but having have played two matches more.
See you there!
