Reading Women exited the Isthmian Cup in humbling fashion on Wednesday evening, suffering a 6-2 defeat to Enfield Town at the Dave Bryant Stadium.
In a disastrous start to the match, the Royals found themselves 4-0 down after just 21 minutes, with goals from Sienna Sherman, Chelise Fleming, Charis Howell and Kasey Keen giving the hosts the perfect start.
Macey-Nikiah Walters pulled one back early in the second half, while Alice Curr added a late second for Reading. However, the damage had already been
done, and Enfield Town’s Jasmine Cox struck twice late to put paid to hopes of a comeback as Reading pushed forward in search of a way back into the game.
It was Reading’s first appearance in the Isthmian Cup since competing at tier five, with the competition featuring teams from across Greater London and the East and South East of England. As cup runs go, it was a brief one for the Royals: a bye in the first round, followed by elimination in the second.
More worryingly, this was the sixth time in eight games that Reading have conceded first. They had however managed to recover and win on three occasions, in league matches against Fleet Town, Sholing and Chesham United.
If going 2-0 down against Chesham United last weekend left Reading with a mountain to climb, the 4-0 deficit against Enfield meant that this time the ascent required crampons, rope and a ladder – none of which the Royals had time to find, let alone use.
Perhaps Reading have been a little unlucky with their cup draws, both in their FA Cup exit to Bromley and Wednesday’s defeat to Enfield, having come up against two confident, in-form teams on both occasions.
Enfield began their 2026/27 campaign in the tier six Division One South Eastern Region, following relegation from the Premier Division last season. They had endured a difficult campaign last term, finishing bottom of the table with just nine points, winning only twice.
They appear to have bounced back in impressive fashion though, winning eight and drawing one of their opening 10 fixtures in all competitions, including Wednesday’s victory over Reading.
Although they have played only three league matches so far, they are clearly enjoying an excellent run in cup competitions. Their FA Cup journey continues, too, with a first round proper tie against Fulham to look forward to – a side featuring former Royal Charlie Estcourt.
As expected, with a large squad at his disposal, Reading manager Ed Jackson-Norris used the cup tie as an opportunity to give more game time to players who had seen limited action so far this season. Georgia Hayes, Ava Broke-Smith, Ellie Manners and Keren Banduka were all named in the starting XI.
There were six changes to the side that started against Chesham United, with Poppy Whitburn and Freya Morgan returning to the starting line-up after featuring as substitutes last weekend. Also named on the bench were recent signing Walters, striker Sophie Bishop and midfielder Amber Duggan, captain of the under-16s team, who made her senior debut.
Those missing from the squad for a variety of reasons included Sarah Thompson and Leah Why, both through injury, and Bogi Tramontini, who was away on under-17 international duty with Hungary. Tia Johnson, Ellie Luscombe, Martha Riley and Nat Cowell were also absent.
Team (3-1-4-1-1): Sophie Butler (GK), Bethan Poole (Keziah Banduka, 45’), Lara Moore, Poppy Whitburn, Ellie Szekeres, Mia Parker (captain), Freya Morgan (Amber Duggan, 45’), Ellie Manners (Macey-Nikiah Walters, 45’), Ava Broke-Smith (Sophie Bishop, 45’) Georgia Hayes, Keren Banduka (Alice Curr, 45’)
Reading goalscorers: Macey-Nikiah Walters, 45’; Alice Curr, 84’
Enfield Town goalscorers: Sienna Sherman, 3’; Chelise Fleming, 14’; Charis Howell, 18’; Kasey Keen, 21’; Jasmine Cox, 84’, 87’
Reading yellow cards: None
Chesham United yellow cards: Sam Malyon, 67’
First half
An unforgiving first half saw the Royals concede just three minutes into the match.
A delightful pass cut the Reading defence open, allowing Enfield striker Sherman to run through on goal and finish confidently while under pressure from Poole, sending the ball past Reading goalkeeper Butler to give the hosts an early lead. 1-0.
Enfield doubled their advantage, with striker Fleming causing all sorts of problems for the Reading defence. The number nine smashed home from close range after the Royals failed to clear a corner. Fleming’s earlier ferocious effort had stung the hands of Butler and forced the set piece. 2-0.
Reading were punished once again from the hosts’ next corner, as Howell was allowed a free header to stun the visitors. 3-0.
If Enfield sensed Reading were wounded, they continued to hunt as a pack in search of a fourth goal. Keen latched on to a long ball over the top to speed away from the approaching Whitburn and coolly finish to put the home side in an unassailable position. 4-0.
Jackson-Norris had seen enough and, albeit a little late, reverted to a back four – with Hayes moving from centre-forward to centre-back – to stop the tidal wave of pressure and steady the ship.
There was an almost immediate response when Broke-Smith ran into the penalty area, with the Enfield defender doing just enough to put the Reading striker off balance, causing her to get underneath the shot and blaze it over the crossbar.
All of a sudden, Reading looked like a different team. In a great passage of play, Poole combined with Keren Banduka before delivering a cross from the left. Szekeres met it with a low shot, but goalkeeper Aulons Xhema was equal to the effort, making an excellent save.
The first half ended with a good spell of pressure from the Royals as they looked for a way back into the match. Reading won their first two corners of the game, with one inswinging delivery close as the ball bounced off the crossbar.
Half-time: 4-0
With Keren Banduka receiving treatment at the end of the first half, it came as little surprise that the unlucky attacker failed to reappear for the second period, with Curr coming on in her place.
With nothing to lose, the Reading manager went all in, making all five substitutions at the break in a bold attempt to turn the game around.
Keziah Banduka replaced Poole at left-back, while Bishop and Walters came on for Manners and Broke-Smith. There was also a debut for under-16s captain Duggan, who took up a place in the heart of midfield, replacing Morgan.
There was a glimmer of hope for Reading when goalkeeper Xhema failed to gather Whitburn’s long ball towards Walters. The Reading substitute reacted quickest, toe-poking the ball away before slotting into the empty net and becoming the 12th different goalscorer for the Royals this season. 4-1.
At the other end, Butler produced a superb reaction save, using her legs to deny what looked like a certain goal after some sloppy last-ditch defending.
With 20 minutes still remaining, Reading were handed another lifeline when Bishop was fouled by the goalkeeper as she burst into the penalty area, having latched onto an excellent long pass from Curr.
After a short delay for treatment to Bishop, Walters stepped up to take the penalty. However, despite striking the ball well with her right foot, she sent her effort wide of the post, taking with it any realistic chance of Reading mounting a comeback.
Reading continued to push and apply pressure, controlling the match as much as you can do when you’re 4-1 down, and produced some good passages of play. However, it was perhaps inevitable that they would be caught on the counter-attack, with Fleming finding space down the Enfield right wing before picking out Cox for an easy header on the goal line to make it 5-1.
Reading’s recent matches have produced goals galore and, with five minutes remaining until the final whistle, there was still time for two more.
Curr scored her sixth goal of the campaign, and her second direct free-kick, having also found the net against Farnham in the opening match of the season. Her long-range effort from wide on the left touchline evaded everyone, with the rooted goalkeeper watching on as the ball bounced into the far corner of the goal. 5-2.
From a long goalkeeper’s kick, Cox had the final say of the match, running onto the pass before rocketing a left-footed half-volley past Butler to make it 6-2.
Jackson-Norris will have plenty to review and reflect on after that match and, knowing what he’s like, is likely to take responsibility for the team’s slow start – at least publicly.
To end on a positive, he will no doubt be pleased to have given himself another midfield selection dilemma (and a nice problem to have) after watching Duggan’s impressive second-half debut.
The under-16s captain followed in the footsteps of Szekeres and Moore, slotting seamlessly into midfield with an accomplished, combative and composed performance. Despite the significant step up to the Royals’ senior team, Duggan looked neither overawed nor out of place, offering plenty of encouragement for a bright future ahead.
Full-time: 6-2
There’s not long to wait for the Reading team to be back in action and put this match behind us (what Isthmian Cup?).
The Royals are back on the road, their fifth consecutive match away from home, and once again in cup action, this time taking on Havant & Waterlooville (Sunday October 25, with kick-off at the new time of 1pm), in the opening round of the League Cup.
And don’t forget that the clocks go back this weekend.
See you there!
