It’s probably an understatement to say it’s been a difficult season at Reading FC Women. And while it hasn’t quite got as bad as sit-ins and the sight of hundreds of tennis balls bouncing around the pitch, things haven’t been easy for the club this season.
Now in the FA Women’s Championship the club have seen the likes of Sanne Troelsgaard and Lily Woodham depart for Roma and Seattle Reign. It’s been tough for the remaining players to keep their heads above water.
Things didn’t go their way last Saturday at all with a loss at home against London City Lionesses. The Lionesses recently recruited former Royal Remi Allen as their new boss and she will have been delighted to see her side secure a 2-1 victory at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. What will have only increased Reading fans’ ire is the second goal was scored by another former Royal, Emma Mukandi!
On Sunday however the Royals earned their second title race ‘scalp’ of 2024, beating Charlton Athletic 1-0 away with a terrific strike from Charlie Wellings – they had previously beaten Sunderland at the Select Car Leasing Stadium 1-0.
Despite the challenges facing the club Reading still sit above the relegation places with a fighting chance of retaining their Championship place. Their main problem appears to be scoring goals. Only Blackburn Rovers have scored fewer (13) than Reading’s 14. The only Reading players to score more than one goal for the club this season are Tia Primmer, Freya Gregory and Lauren Wade.
What is most surprising about Reading’s goalscoring exploits is that only two goals have come in the first half with the lion’s share coming after half-time. Indeed the most startling fact about Reading’s goals is that half of them were scored in the last ten minutes of the match.
While manager Liam Gilbert will clearly want more goals from his side earlier in the game, he must surely be pleased that Reading’s never-say-die attitude has allowed them to claw back games late on.
Gilbert will be hopeful that Reading’s survival in the division won’t require a late show this season. The club are due to travel to bottom-of-the-table Watford on Sunday 28th April, fans and players will be hopeful that the Royals can secure their safety long before the date.
Remaining Reading FC Women games
- Sunday March 17: Southampton (A)
- Wednesday March 20: Birmingham City (H)
- Sunday March 24: Sheffield United (A)
- Sunday March 31: Blackburn Rovers (H)
- Sunday April 14: Blackburn Rovers (A)
- Sunday March 21: Durham (H)
- Sunday March 28: Watford (A)
