Reading Women 4-1 Badshot Lea Ladies: Match Report

Reading Women kickstarted their 2025/2026 season in style with an emphatic 4-1 home victory against Badshot Lea Ladies on Sunday. A goal from Tyra Wilson, two from Poppy Whitburn and another – in time added on – from Georgia Hayes completed a dominant performance and great start for Ed Jackson-Norris in his first competitive game in charge of the Royals.

The Reading fans turned out in good numbers for their first opportunity to take a look at the new line-up, in competitive league match action, after

a mixed bag of pre-season results and performances. These indifferent displays were perhaps not unexpected after another summer overhaul, with ‘Project 2.0: Reading Women Rebuild’ including a new management team and just about an entirely new playing squad.

Only five players from last season’s relegation battle continued their journey with the Royals. Lucy Bolitho was the only recognisable face in the starting XI, together with Assia Fatri and Mollie Dench on the substitutes bench.

Before the match commenced, Mia Parker was announced as captain for the 2025/2026 campaign. The hard-working box-to-box midfielder was already known to Jackson-Norrris from his time in charge at Maidenhead United.

After some difficult selection decisions, the squad size sits at 26, meaning that although 10 players were unavailable in this game due to injuries, holidays or other commitments, the Reading manager was still able to name a full match-day squad with five substitutes available.

Team: Lilly Hadrava (GK), Poppy Whitburn, Keziah Banduka, Sarah Thompson, Bethan Poole (Mollie Dench, 67), Mia Parker (Captain), Jazz King, Lucy Bolitho (Assia Fatri, 67), Georgia Hayes, Natalie Cowell, Tyra Wilson

Reading goalscorers: Tyra Wilson, 23; Poppy Whitburn, 42, 57; Georgia Hayes

Badshot Lea goalscorer: Luke Gemma, 16

Reading yellow card: Bethan Poole, 47

Badshot Lea Yellow yellow cards: None

In contrast, Badshot Lea look to have had a difficult summer for different reasons, and are still actively looking for players, having named a pre-match revamped squad of only 13.

“Just before kick-off, they received a short message of good luck from Noel Hunt, the manager of the Reading’s men’s team. A nice touch”

Six of those players, however, were involved in last season’s ‘mini league’ relegation battle (along with Selsey, who sadly had to withdraw from the league just weeks before the season started), with the Royals eventually finishing 10 points ahead of the Baggies and winning their two head-to-head matches.

Aside from training, tactics and team bonding, there’s been some nice personal thinking and detail from the new Reading management team.

During the week, the players were shown some short videos from fans of what it means to support the club and why wearing the blue and white hoops continues to be important in the battle to push back up the leagues. And, just before kick-off, they received a short message of good luck from Noel Hunt, the manager of the Reading’s men’s team. A nice touch.

First half

Reading’s intent was clear from the off, with Hayes firing a shot straight at the Badshot Lea goalkeeper and a Parker effort going just wide of the target within the opening two minutes.

With three corners (a total of nine throughout the first half alone and 13 overall), it was Reading who piled on the early pressure. Bolitho came closest, her header going just wide of the back post.

So it came as a real shock when the visitors took the lead, with just 16 minutes on the clock. Reading defender Banduka was harshly adjudged to have given away a free-kick, after what looked like a great recovering tackle on the edge of the penalty area. Up stepped the Baggies’ number nine Gemma Luke to rifle home a fierce shot past the defensive wall and outstretched Hadrava, in the Reading goal. 0-1.

The Royals gathered themselves to go again, quickly winning but wasting a couple of opportunities from two more quick corners, before Wilson picked up a pass from Bolitho, ran towards the goal and unleashed an effort from outside of the box which flew into the top corner to bring the teams level. 1-1.

“It looked as though [Reading] were feeling the pressure of needing to win the match and were just trying a little too hard, rather than relaxing and enjoying the game”

Kevin Jordan, the Badshot Lea manager, immediately decided to utilise the rolling substitutions provision, bringing on his only two fresh pairs of legs available.

Although Reading were dominant in possession, it looked as though they were feeling the pressure of needing to win the match and were just trying a little too hard, rather than relaxing and enjoying the game.

On the half-hour mark, a corner from Reading caused pinball chaos in the Badshot Lea penalty area, with a shot from Bolitho, at the near post, the best effort of a frantic few seconds.

Wilson, Cowell and Poole all had further attempts on goal before Whitburn gave the Royals some valuable breathing space, putting the Royals ahead with three minutes of normal first half-time remaining.

It was a great bit of football: Poole’s pass releasing Cowell, to cross for an impressive first-time angled finish at the back post from Whitburn. It was a just reward for the right-back, who had worked tirelessly down the line throughout the first half. 2-1.

There was still time for one more bit of excitement before the break, when Hayes’ cross from the left curled towards the goal and bounced off the crossbar and away to safety.

It was a first 45 controlled by Reading, played almost entirely in the Badshot half. I’m unable to recall the visitors having a touch inside the Reading penalty area (the Baggies’ rocket of a free-kick was launched from just outside the box).

Half-time: 2-1

Poole picked up the statistic of being the first Royals yellow card of the season, disputing a throw-in given to the visitors, just two minutes into the restart. Fortunately she avoided any further sin-bin punishment.

Badshot Lea had the first attempt of the second period with a shot blazed over the crossbar.

Spurred back into action, Reading picked up the pace with a quick one-two releasing Poole, her shot blocked by goalkeeper Ellie James. Shortly after, that was followed by an effort from the lively Wilson, who rattled the near post from a tight angle.

Five minutes later, Whitburn scored her second of the afternoon to extend the Royals’ lead, finishing from close range after another great cross – and second assist – from Cowell. 3-1.

On 60 minutes the visitors came closest to scoring. Hadrava, the ex-Brentford and now-Reading goalkeeper, stayed alert to keep the hosts two goals ahead, getting down quickly to save and block a good effort from close range.

With Reading now back in full control, both sides made five changes during the second half. Badshot Lea once again utilised the rolling changes and Jackson-Norris took the opportunity to introduce all five players from the Reading bench.

Dench and Fatri were introduced in the 67th minute, in place of Poole and Bolitho. Just 10 minutes later, a triple change meant Knight, Pearson and Broke-Smith coming on for Whitburn, King and Cowell, to cheers and applause from a decent, three-figure crowd at Arbour Park.

In time added on, Hayes completed a more deserving and reflective Royals scoreline. The hard-working striker coolly slotted the ball home after being put through by a delightful pass by centre-back Sarah Thompson. 4-1.

Final score: 4-1

It was good to see the team finally wearing the new ‘biscuit tin’ hooped kit in their first competitive outing, together with a shiny new approach and performance to match. The fans enjoyed watching the new-look team playing on the front foot, creating space (great width from the full-backs and forwards), working hard and covering for each other.

If you were following on social media, you’d have also seen the new graphics made available to the volunteer media team. With more updates and information to follow, that made for a really positive all-round start to the season.

The Royals will be looking to build some momentum next weekend, Sunday September 7, with a trip to newly promoted Beaconsfield Town, who will no doubt be looking to bounce back after a difficult start to their new tier-five campaign. See you there!