Reading Women 1-4 Winchester City Flyers: Match Report

Zuzanna Gajzler pulled one back for the Royals, but goals from Libby Wilkinson (x3) and Annie Northwood helped the visitors to a comfortable victory.

The Royals found themselves on the wrong end of a harsh 4-1 scoreline after a gutsy performance against Winchester City Flyers at Arbour Park on Sunday. A second-half goal from Reading striker Zuzanna Gajzler wasn’t enough to spark a comeback, with Libby Wilkinson’s clinical hat-trick - alongside a goal from substitute Annie Northwood - proving the decisive quality for the visitors.

Winchester City Flyers were always going to be a bit of an unknown quantity. Their results before this game showed an even split of four defeats, four victories and one draw. It was also their first match of 2025, their last coming nearly a month ago: an impressive victory against Woodley United.

Winchester started the afternoon in seventh place - just three places above Reading but enjoying a massive 13-point advantage (now extended to 16 points, moving up to sixth place, after Sholing lost at home to Woodley United). The Royals are still rooted to the base of the table (and yet to pick up a point).

Although the core of the Reading team now seems to be fairly stable, with players regularly available, manager Pedro Bruno (back at the helm today after absence last time out) was still only able to name one substitute: Caitlin Levy. Poppy Airey and Sajunae Turner were missing after starting against Ascot United last Sunday.

With no transfer window at this level, there was further disappointment for the Royals after the mid-week announcement that former captain Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins (who left the club at the start of the year), had re-signed for league rivals Wycombe Wanderers.

Team: Cherry Preisner (GK), Rosie Robinson (Caitlin Levy, 33, Rosie Robinson 63, Caitlin Levy, 75), Lilly Brooke-Cousins, Megan Giles, Mollie Dench, Lucy Bolitho (Captain), Keira Morl, Lily Simmons, Mia Bradley, Zuzanna Gajzler, Assia Fatri.

Yellow cards: None

Reading goalscorer: Zuzanna Gajzler (59)

Winchester City Flyers goalscorers: Libby Wilkinson (17, 31, 66), Annie Northwood (76)

Reading subs unused: None

First half

After a fairly even opening quarter of an hour, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock. The first of three for Libby Wilkinson was a strike from the edge of the penalty area - the ball falling to the City midfielder after Cherry Preisner had punched away a cross from the right, from winger Vinnie Nkomo. 0-1.

Both teams created half chances. Reading’s Lily Simmons had a shot from wide on the right wing which was well handled by Ellie Parker in the Flyers goal, and Nkomo fired high over the Reading crossbar - before Wilkinson grabbed her second of the afternoon. Her thunderous free-kick rocketed into the top corner of the Reading goal, giving Preisner no chance. 0-2.

With 15 minutes of the first half remaining, the Royals made their first substitution. Bruno replaced Rosie Robinson with Caitlin Levy, before making the same changes twice more, the pair taking it in turns to replace each other.

As half-time approached, Reading pushed but were unable to grab the much-needed goal. Mia Bradley’s fierce shot was blocked, while another effort from Simmons went straight at the Winchester goalkeeper.

Half-time: 0-2

Reading kicked off the second half and continued where they left off, coming close after Bradley robbed the Flyers’ left-back with her cross, unfortunate not to find Assia Fatri in the box.

There were some stand-out performances from a few Reading players and, in defence, none more than from Mollie Dench. Her run from one side of the pitch to the other to block a shot epitomised her effort and work rate throughout the match.

On the right wing Bradley caused all sorts of problems for Winchester, coming close to pulling a goal back. This time her cross was just inches from the stretching head of Gajzler.

Gajzler and Bradley never gave up and were relentless in their attempts to close down the City defence. Gajzler was rewarded for her efforts when she forced defender Eloise Powell-Rowland into an error and intercepted a back pass to toe-poke past Parker, into the Winchester goal. 1-2.

Just as it looked like the Royals were going to force themselves back into the match, a sloppy bit of defending cost them dearly. A loose pass found its way to Wilkinson, the City number eight again making no mistake and finishing into the bottom corner of the Reading goal. 1-3.

Although a blow, still Reading charged forward. Everything good from the Royals, particularly in the second half, came from the creativity of Bradley on the right wing. This time her run and cross were unlucky not to be matched by Fatri burying the chance from close range.

The killer blow - together with the rather harsh scoreline - came with 15 minutes to go - when substitute Annie Northwood found herself with space in the Reading penalty, her first-time shot evading Preisner. 1-4.

Full time: 1-4

Although it’s another defeat, and another defeat at home, it’s difficult to feel too down-hearted by that performance. There were more attacking options on the day - Gajzler running her legs (and lungs) to maximum capacity, Bradley dancing down the wing and creating numerous chances, and Dench doing her bit to cover every blade of the 3G pitch. There would certainly be interesting heat maps to see.

As a group of players they look like they are getting to know each other, learning (quickly and cruelly, at times) and seem to still be enjoying their football - in the face of adversity and new challenges each week.

If anything, and as obvious as it sounds, it’s the lack of goals that is costing them - alongside the lack of experience when up against more seasoned, older and street-wise players (but who aren’t necessarily more skilful or better players).

That was the Royals’ eighth league match of the season and their sixth home match. Rather bizarrely, at the start of February they will have completed eight (out of a total of nine) home league matches - starting next weekend with a huge match against Selsey (January 19, 2pm kick-off) - just two places and two points above them.

With home matches quickly running out, why not get yourself down to Arbour Park and cheer on the Royals to victory and the chance to move out of the relegation places with their first points of the season?. See you there!