Villa come from behind to win 3-1
It was a bright start from Reading, but a Daly double, Burns red card and Evans own goal, it was the hosts who took all three points.
An early chance for Villa, as Mukandi was caught in possession and Daly was first to the loose ball. With time she picked out Dali on the edge of the box, but couldn’t get her shot on target.
After Villa’s early chance, Reading managed to settle and see more of the ball as Rowe was pulled back to prevent a fast break. Woodham hung in a looping ball to the back post, and it was prodded in from Wade as Dowie’s header down at the back post kept it alive.
Villa responded well to going a goal down, as Lehmann managed to read Evans’ ball out from the box, but couldn’t keep her effort down.
After a frantic opening ten minutes, the following ten only had one clear cut chance as Dali found Lehmann in space on the edge of the box, but Evans & Caldwell did well to block any route to goal for a corner. Dali delivered, but Vanhaevermaet rose highest to head away the danger.
Mid-way through the first half, Villa began to dominate possession deep inside Reading’s half. Villa had a threatening break through Lehmann and Daly, but the forwards combination didn’t pay off and Reading were able to get back behind the ball to cover the danger from progressing.
The dangerous Rachel Daly hadn’t had too much space in the box in the opening half an hour, until a wicked ball in from Mayling picked her out in the centre of the box but Evans did just enough to contest the ariel ball and see the effort go over.
Since scoring, Reading hadn’t had too much joy in Villa’s half until Primmer managed to get in-behind down the left. Royals had an extra body in the attack, but Primmer couldn’t pick out Wade or Dowie waiting in the box.
Villa’s pressure eventually came to fruition as Daly got them back level ten minutes before the break. After Reading cleared the initial ball into the box, Villa did well to recycle the ball as Lehmann’s cross to the back post found the English forward, who headed back across goal and the effort sneaked in at the back post.
A spell of two quick chances for Reading, who showed a good reaction since conceding. The first one through Dowie, who did well to hold off Villa pressure and strike from 25 yards out but it was easy enough for the keeper. Moments later, the Royals were on the attack again, as Wade managed to win back possession inside Villa’s half and drove towards the box before striking from the edge, which tested the keeper once again but Leat got across to claim.
Just before the break, Aston Villa took the lead. Caldwell did well initially to prevent a fast break and conceded the corner. Dali’s ball in found Daly at the near post whose flick on deflected in off Evans, who could do nothing about it.
Half-time: Aston Villa 2 – 1 Reading
Villa came out fast in the second half, and had the first chance through another set piece. Dali’s delivery found Daly once again, but her header went wide.
The hosts were asking all the questions in the opening ten minutes to the second half. This time Mayling was the provider with an overlapping run on the right, her ball in tried to pick out Daly once again, but again the header went wide.
A clever exchange from Reading, with Rowe and Eikeland combining in the middle, and Eikeland’s clever reverse ball tried to find Dowie’s run in behind by Leat was out quickly to get to the ball first.
Another half-chance for Reading followed, Rowe’s terrific ball into the box from deep picked out Dowie. With a lot to do, Dowie brought the ball down well before volleying, but Villa’s Turner managed to get in the way.
Things went from bad to worse for Reading as keeper Burns was shown a straight red for denying a goal scoring opportunity on the edge of the box.
Reading created another opportunity to break, but Villa with the extra player, managed to swarn the ball to deny the break from progressing any further. But as quick as Villa were in winning the ball back, they quickly sprung on the attack themselves as Daly was played in behind and eventually brought down in the box. Daly took charge of the ball, and dispatched it calmly.
For what remained of the game, Reading continued to battle bravely and hold firm to the final whistle despite the constant pressure from the hosts.
Full-time: Aston Villa 3 – 1 Reading
Aston Villa: Leat (GK), Mayling, Corsig, Lehmann, Daly (Goodwin 92’), Dali (Mullett 92’), Turner, Batten, Blindilde Brown (McLoughlin 78’), Hanson (Gregory 68’), Pacheco
Unused Subs: Hampton, Gielnik
Goals: Daly (36’, 75’), Evans OG (45+2’)
Reading: Burns (GK), Mukandi ©, Evans, Eikeland, Dowie, Wade (Bryson 61’), Caldwell (Cooper 61’), Rowe, Vanhaevermaet, Woodham, Primmer (Moloney 68')
Unused Subs: Poulter, Jane, Meadows Tuson, Troelsgaard
Goals: Wade (6’)
Red: Burns (65’)