The Adobe Women’s FA Cup provided a shock for Reading FC Women as they were dumped out by National League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
For all the off-field noise around Reading at the moment – something Football in Berkshire fully supports – it wasn’t unreasonable to have the Royals in as favorites against a side a division below in the Fourth Round.
As it was, Madison Perry’s opener for Reading on 35 minutes at Aldershot Town’s ground wasn’t enough to see them through, Bethan Merrick (72) and Destiney Toussaint (87) provided a quick-fire reminder that despite an excellent run of results in December, this is still a team finding its feet in the second tier of English Women’s Football.
Manager Liam Gilbert’s post-match interview reflected ‘noise’ around the club but he was quick to dismiss that as an excuse: “We didn’t want it. Wolves wanted it more than they deserve the victory. Simple as that.
“There’s no secret that there is a lot of noise going around the club, can that impact you mentally, sure. You can try and use that as an excuse, but for me, we were nowhere near it.”
- Slough Town Ladies maintained their focus on the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division One title with a 3-0 win at home to Carterton thanks to a Hannah Summers hat-trick.
- Bournemouth Sports took advantage of Ascot United’s cup distraction and made up their game in hand to go top of the Southern Region Women’s Football League by a point. Ascot lost 3-1 on penalties in the League Cup after drawing 3-3 in normal time. Bournemouth went to Badshot Lea and won 2-1.
- It is advantage Finchampstead in the TVCWFL Division Three South after a 2-1 win at home to Caversham AFC. Finch now lead Yateley United by a point with a game in hand.
