Ruthless second half by City claim all three points.
An electric start by Reading who went 1-0 up inside 55 seconds. A high press was rewarded as the loose ball was picked up by Troelsgaard on the edge of the box, and without hesitation shot and found the far corner.
City’s first real chance came eight minutes in, a well-worked indirect freekick picked out Houghton just inside the six yard box, but it thankfully went straight at Moloney.
City were dominating the ball, and eventually made their pressure pay with 15 on the clock as they found their equaliser. A ball sent in caused confusion between defence and the keeper, and Kelly managed to get to the ball first and poke below Moloney.
Manchester City looked threatening everytime they came forward, as Caldwell’s clearance from a cross only made it as far as Hemp on the edge, but she flashed the chance over. Minutes later, City were ahead. Kelly’s inswinging corner was met by the run of Shaw at the near post who powered home, Moloney was unfortunate as she got a hand to it, but couldn’t get enough behind it to parry wide.
Since the goal Reading didn’t have much joy in the final third, but a huge chance presented itself when Troelsgaard pinched the ball off Roebuck, but the angle was tight once she managed to turn, as Roebuck managed to get back up to save the shot.
The final exchanges of the half didn’t offer too much in the way of chances, but moments of encouragement for Reading as their high press was causing City plenty of problems, but struggled to do anything when on the ball. However, Reading did manage to create half-a-chance right before the break, as Troelsgaard battled well in the box and the deflection found it’s way to Rowe on the edge but before striking the ref blew for a free-kick in the way of the hosts.
Half-time: Manchester City 2– 1 Reading
An early chance for Reading in the second half, a well worked pressed ended with Primmer able to turn a defender and charge towards the box. The space infront of her was getting closed off so she decided to shoot from 20 yards out, but couldn’t keep the effort on target.
But City instantly hit back, with Kelly getting away down the right and worked her way into the box, then with time to get her head up squared the ball to the back post where Hemp was there to put over the line.
Reading quickly responded with two chances of their own, the first Troelsgaard in the box but Houghton read the danger to block and turn behind for a corner. Mukandi’s ball in was perfect for Vanhaevermaet but she couldn’t keep the header down.
Heart in mouths moment for Reading as Hemp drove towards the box, ducking many challenges before slipping Kelly in behind. She attempted to find the far corner, but the ball rolled just wide.
The hosts were hunting for more goals, and couldn’t have come much closer as Kelly’s floated ball to the back post found Hemp unmarked, and her first time strike cannoned off the inside off the post, and Reading managed to clear.
The pressure kept coming, with two quick-fire chances for Man City for Kelly & Hasegawa, both unable to hit the target from range.
A rare sight of goal for Reading came 20 minutes into the half, as Rowe managed to dig the ball out from under feet for a chance from range, but she was off balance and struggled to make clean contact as the ball sailed over.
The next chance led to the next goal, and it was for the hosts who had their fourth. Moore’s late challenge on Hasegawa on the edge of the box presented to the chance for Houghton, who executed an inch perfect freekick into the bottom corner.
After getting the fourth, City's intensity reduced, but still saw a couple of close chances towards the end of the game. The closest was Shaw's first time volley from a low ball in, but it wasn't the cleanest of contacts as the ball rolled wide of Moloney's goal. Two minutes from time, a fortuate deflection off Mayi Kith landed at the feet of Shaw, but on the turn couldn't direct goalwards.
Full-time: Manchester City 4 - 1 Reading
Manchester City: Roebuck, Casparij, Greenwood (Ouahabi 75’), Houghton, Coombs (Castellanos 74’), Kelly, Hemp (Raso 65’) Angeldahl, Morgan, Shaw, Hasegawa (Fowler 75’)
Unused Subs: Keating, Stokes, Dahou
Goals: Kelly (15’), Shaw (23’), Hemp (46’), Houghton (70’)
Reading: Moloney (GK), Mukandi ©, Wellings, Eikeland, Harries (Wade 72’), Mayi Kith, Caldwell, Rowe, Vanhaevermaet (Perry 85’), Primmer (Moore 54’), Troelsgaard (Hendrix 85’)
Unused Subs: Poulter, Bryson, Evans, Jane, Alexander
Goals: Troelsgaard (1’)
Yellow: Primmer (3’), Caldell (81’)