Following on from a disappointing matchday one result against Bristol City, Reading had to get a positive result against Crystal Palace to have any chance of going through to the later stages.
Reading certainly came out the blocks with a point to prove and controlled the tempo creating two good chances.
The first was created by a brilliant overlapping run from Woodham on the left, and playing an equally good ball over to the back post, but it was just too much for Harries to latch on to at the back post. The second shortly followed, as Vanhaevermaet drove towards the box and slipped in Dowie down the left-hand side of the box but her attempted cut back was well intercepted by Morgan in the Palace goal.
As we approached the halfway point of the first half, it was time for Woodham’s next surging run down the left-hand side. Some clever footwork made her evade the Palace captain, Johnson, and play Harries in at the back post, but she could only manage to flick the header backwards.
Royals continued to build from the back, with a quick move involving Bryson, Eikeland, eventually found Woodham cutting in from the left, and showing some neat footwork to get a shot away which just went wide.
Tia Primmer almost got on the scoresheet in her first senior start for the club, as an indirect freekick from 30 yards out almost picked out her run at the back post, but was just a little to much to get anything on it.
The breakthrough came just after the half an hour mark. Woodham was at it again with another brilliant delivery from a corner, picking out Evans who rose highest to win the header and direct her header towards the far post!
Royals looked to extend their lead as Harries cuts it back to Dowie, whose touch finds the feet of Harding at the back post, but gets just too much on her shot. Moments later, it’s Harries again on the right hand side picking out the run of Dowie on the penalty spot, but she gets too much on the shot and sees her effort go over.
Reading was largely dominant for most of the first half, and will feel hard done by not to have more than a one goal lead.
Half Time: Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Reading
Reading looked to continue their fast past from the get-go, with a clever move starting with Harries looked to play Eikeland in. Her dummy drew the defenders, for Vanhaevermaet to shoot from the edge of the box, but her sweeping effort went over.
The scores were level moments later as Barton for the hosts turned into space 20 yards from goal, and her shot called on Moloney who did well to parry the initial shot, however, Sharpe was there to turn it home.
Since conceding, Reading struggled to find the pace they had in the first half, which made Chambers go to the bench ten minutes in introducing Deanne Rose and Brooke Chaplen. It took just ten minutes for the subs to change the game, as Chaplen gets two in two minutes.
The first is all down to Rose who does brilliantly to win the ball back on the half way line. Then, the turn of pace is frightening! To knock the ball past Johnson and get into the box, she gives herself time to get her head up and square it to Chaplen. Moments later, Harries is the provider with a drilled ball into the box which finds Chaplen making a bursting run to the near post and knocks it past Morgan.
That third goal certainly calmed the nerves of the Reading players who were made to work in the second half. Evans almost got on the scoresheet again with a delivery from Bryson, finding Evans at the back post but her volley skidded off the surface and went wide.
The final chance of the game fell to Chaplen for her hattrick, as she was plated through one-vs-one against Morgan, who did well to make herself big and block her shot with her leg.
Full Time: Crystal Palace 1 – 3 Reading
Crystal Palace: Morgan, Cowan, Johnson, Pearse, Coombs, Barton, Nicol (McClean 81’), Churchill (Everett 68’), Haines (Wilson 90’), Clifford (Baptiste 90’), Sharpe
Unused subs: Orman, Farrow, Waldie, McLean
Goals: Sharpe (50’)
Reading: Moloney, Woodham, Roberts (Peplow 80’), Bryson, Evans, Vanhaevermaet, Eikeland, Primmer, Harries, Harding © (Chaplen 64’), Dowie (Rose (64’)
Unused subs: Stewart, Poulter, MacDonald, Lister, Woodcock
Goals: Evans (33’) Chaplen (73’ 76’)