Decisions did not go in the way of Reading who had two goals chalked off in the first half, and then went on to lose to Lewes on penalties resulting in failing to progress in this years Conti Cup.
Reading settled into the game quickly as Amalie Eikeland, who was filling in at right-back, played Natasha Dowie’s run in behind and did well to win a corner. From the corner, Lily Woodham, tried to pick out Gemma Evans at the back who managed to knock it down to Deanne Rose who mistimed her shot and bounced through to Laura Hartley in goal.
Despite the early possession, it was Lewes who got the first goal of the game, as a deep freekick was played in and caused confusion in the box, which eventually found Rhian Cleverly to poke it in past Grace Moloney.
Moments later, Reading thought they had equalised as Eikeland delivered a ball to the back post and as the Lewes keeper failed to claim, Royals front line were adamant it crossed the line but the officials waved the protests away, and play continued.
Despite the dubious decision, the Royals showed fantastic spirit to continue pressing and managed to win themselves another corner. Lily Woodham stepped up to take and delivered towards the far post, Dowie did brilliantly to hold off the defenders and nod home. This one crossed the line for sure!
Dowie thought she had a second when Bethan Roberts floated in an inch-perfect ball from the halfway line to find the run-in behind from Dowie, but she couldn’t get enough on the header and Hartley came out to claim.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Dowie could have had a hattrick inside the first half an hour, as once again she has the ball in the back of the net as she rediverts Tia Primmer’s effort on goal, but the linesman adjudges her to be offside.
The final action of the half was a sensational effort from Justine Vanhaevermaet. As the ball is cleared out, Vanhaevermaet brings the ball down from 35 yards out and hits it on the half-volley. The effort caught Hartley out and was prevented by the crossbar, the goal of the season contender had it found its way in.
Half-Time: Lewes 1 – 1 Reading
Lewes started the second half with a double change introducing Cousins and Ashworth-Smith.
Reading struggled to find any flow in the opening 20 minutes to the second half, playing long balls forward but the Lewes backline stood strong to sweep away any danger.
Midway through the second half, a collision between Chloe Peplow and Rebecca McKenna brought a pause in play, as a heavy challenge left McKenna being forced to make way. It presented a good opportunity for Chambers to address her side and fire them up for the final half an hour.
Despite the instructions mid-way through the second half, the Royals’ struggled to create any clear-cut chances. Lewes came close with a long-range effort hitting the crossbar, but the official put their flag up for offside.
Lewes came the closest to a winner, right at the death, as Logan cuts in from the left-hand side and bends her shot which cannons off the post.
The game finished level and the game was decided on penalties.
Lewes ran out eventual winners 6-5 on penalties, meaning Reading finished the group with four points.
Full-Time: Lewes 1 - 1 Reading (6-5 after pens)
Reading: Moloney, Eikeland, Woodham, Roberts, Evans, Vanhaevermaet, Peplow, Primmer, Harries, Dowie, Rose (Lister 83’)
Unused Subs: Stewart, Wild, MacDonald, Meadows Tuson
Goals: Dowie (16’)
Yellow: Eikeland (82’)
Penalties: Dowie, Harries, Vanhaevermaet, Woodham, Eikeland,
Lewes: Hartley, Dalton, McKenna (Plumb 65’), Cleverly (Cousins 45’), Hack, Cross (Ashworth-Clifford 45’), Noble, Longhurst, Miller, Logan, Timms
Unused Subs: Hazard, Howells, Umotong, Salgado
Goals: Cleverly (10’)
Yellows: Hack (53’)
Penalties: Dalton, Timms, Miller, Noble, Ashworth-Clifford, Hack