Reading Women have secured their place in the Fifth Round Proper of the Vitality Womens FA Cup after a 3-2 victory away at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Reading struck first when Justine Vanhaevermaet headed home a set piece from Faye Bryson at the half hour mark. The Royals looked in control as they entered half time 1-0 up. They came out all cylinders firing in the second forty five and Deanne Rose took a striding run down the centre of the pitch before knocking the ball past Megan Walsh.
The Seagulls weren’t ready to sit back and let Reading take the win however and a slick cross by Emma Koivisto ended up in the back of the net. They fired home again 10 minutes later when Kayleigh Green was gifted a goal by Rhiannon Stewart when she attempted to play the ball out from the back and Green pinched it to take them to a draw.
“When I saw [Deanne] Rose charging forward with the ball, I was just thinking about making sure I offer a good option if she needs it and if she shoots to be in a position for any rebounds. It’s tough to keep up with D, as we all know the unreal pace she has, but in my head, I was just saying ‘run!’, and luckily today it fell my way.”
Tia Primmer on her debut goal on the Reading FC website.
But with five minutes to go, Rose once again took a striding run down the middle of the pitch and saw her shot blocked before Reading debutant Tia Primmer was there to head the winning goal home. Brighton had two chances, one Brooke Chaplen-esque against Arsenal shot that hammered the cross bar and a goal line clearance from Woodham that saw shouts from several Brighton players who believed it had crossed the line but the ref signalled for play to carry on in both instances.
Reading have been drawn at home to West Ham in the Fifth Round Proper on Sunday 27th of February, keep up to date with all things Vitality Womens FA Cup here.
