Reading Women 2-3 Woodley United Ladies: Match Report
The Royals were dealt a harsh lesson today, losing late on at home to Woodley United.
A first-half lead through a Woodley United own goal and Zuzanna Gajzler strike wasn’t enough as Reading Women were dealt another harsh lesson this afternoon. They conceded a late goal, in the fourth minute of time added on, losing 3-2 to a Woodley team reduced to 10 players during the second half.
It was a particularly cruel (and undeserved) blow, in what was an otherwise thoroughly entertaining match. The Royals more than matched the (streetwise and experienced) visitors, with good pressure (nine corners) and creating chances of their own - with debutant Lucy Bolitho hitting the post in the second half.
It was back to league business today, with last weekend’s FA Cup qualifying match a much welcomed, and much needed, distraction and boost for manager, coaching team and players, who have worked so hard to get this far. Their reward (for the third qualifying round) is another away fixture, this time at Richmond & Kew FC Women on October 13.
Although there were three more players added to the squad this week (Assia Fatri, Megan Giles and Jasmine Clarke) and the FA records now show 23 players registered, Reading manager Pedro Bruno was still only able to name two substitutes this afternoon. Injuries and other commitments left players unavailable for the match.
Bruno opted to keep Cherry Preisner in goal for the Royals, with goalkeeper Mia Donovan (who was asked to play centre-forward in the second half last week) getting some important match play elsewhere. There were also six players making their debuts today: new signings Fatri and Giles starting, alongside other recently registered players Lucy Bolitho and Freya Morgan, with Clarke and Sumayah Zayadi named as the two substitutes.
Team: Cherry Preisner (GK), Megan Giles, Tia Lee (Ellie Herbert, 72), Lauren Drewett, Ellie Herbert (Jasmine Clarke, 55), Zuzanna Gajzler (Sumayah Zayadi, 87), Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins (captain) (Zuzanna Gajzler, 90), Assia Fatri, Freya Morgan, Mia Bradley, Lucy Bolitho
Substitutes: Clarke, Zayadi
Every fixture is a new experience and this afternoon’s local opponents, Woodley United Ladies certainly look to be a well run club (from the outside anyway), backed by local sponsorship, friendly and welcoming to all (although more of that later).
The visitors finished third last season and are currently mid-table, having bounced back after their startling 11-0 defeat to Ascot United (their opening match of the season) with league home victories against Badshot Lea and Winchester City flyers. They’re also through to the FA Cup third-round qualifying after an impressive result away to Oxford City.
The opening few minutes were an indication of the match to come: a Woodley shot, just wide of Preisner’s goal, within the opening seconds of kick-off. Reading captain Hoesli-Atkins immediately replied with her own attempt, but the visitors took the lead on five minutes after winger Sarah Lawrence broke free down the United left and crossed for Mollie Haines to finish into an empty net. 0-1.
With Woodley continuing their early pressure, Reading goalkeeper Preisner - who could do nothing about the first goal - pulled off a fantastic save to tip a great strike onto the angle of the crossbar and upright. Although the rebound was tapped home, the effort was quickly ruled out for offside.
The Royals regained their composure with pressure of their own with a good effort from Mia Bradley from just outside the penalty area, in addition to her perfectly executed corners causing mayhem and creating opportunities in Woodley penalty area.
The two wide players for Reading - Bradley and Zuzanna Gajzler - were great outlets for the Royals in attack, and these two combined for the equaliser. Bradley’s cross from the left found its way to Bolitho, with Gajzler finishing the move for her second goal of the season. 1-1.
As Reading grew in confidence the visitors became frustrated and this boiled over with one of their players receiving a yellow card, a 10-minute sin-bin punishment and probably a monetary fine - for dissent.
Around the same time as the Woodley player re-entered the field of play, Reading scored to put themselves into the lead at halt-time. It came from Reading’s fourth (of seven) corner of the first half, Bradley grabbing an assist when her corner was turned into her own net by the Woodley number five. 2-1.
Half time: 2-1
Woodley number seven Lawrence was, time and again, a real threat with her pace, strength and skill, causing problems for the Royals’ defence all match. After her assist for the first goal, she showed more of her talent with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the Reading penalty area - her strike rocketing over the reach of the Royals’ keeper and into the top-right-hand corner for the equaliser. 2-2.
The visitors found themselves down to 10 players after the Woodley number five (who, together with the own-goal, certainly had a match to forget) picked up two yellow cards, within two minutes, after two silly, petulant and unnecessary fouls.
The Woodley technical area also found themselves with one fewer of their coaching staff after the assistant referee had heard enough from the dugout, to call over the referee who immediately showed a red card for the coach to also leave the field of play.
Rather unusually, and not a sentence I’ve written in a report before, it’s also worth a special shout-out to the officials who worked together as a team - both professionally and respectfully - to ensure that the match didn’t get out of hand and spill over as both teams pushed for the victory.
With 15 minutes of the match remaining, the Royals came closest to taking the lead when Bolitho managed to touch the ball past the outrushing Woodley goalkeeper, only to see what looked like her goal-bound shot strike the post and cleared to safety.
With the 90 minutes completed, Reading suffered a double blow. Captain Hoesli-Atkins had to be substituted after what looked like a nasty ankle injury, which was quickly followed by the late, late winner. Preisner pulled off a fine save to tip a wicked free-kick delivery onto post, only to see her effort turned in by Chloe Melton for her first goal for United. 2-3.
Full-time: 2-3
Although it’s a bitter blow for the team, and for fans alike, it’s worth remembering that it’s still early in the season and the Reading squad is still growing, so is very much still in its infancy (in more ways than one - over half of today’s team were teenagers). They’re still getting to know each other (some players not yet having kicked a ball competitively) and are still learning all about tier-five football - albeit with some harsh lessons.
It was a good turnout of support and I’m sure this will continue when AFC Porchester visit Arbour Park next weekend, 2pm Sunday October 6. See you there!