Reading will have become acustom to entering the Women’s FA Cup in the latter stages of the competition as Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship sides are exempt until the Fourth Round Proper of the competition. Just five years ago, they found themselves in the semi-final in a fierce tie with West Ham United with Rachel Furness putting the Royals 1-0 up in just three minutes, a post-hitting penalty from Fara Williams should’ve secured a place in the final but it wasn’t to be as the Hammers headed to Wembley after a shootout victory.
With the complete overhaul of the women’s pathway at the club, including their elected demotion to Tier 5 of the pyramid, they will now join stalwarts of the Second Round Qualifying, Ascot United and Woodley United, who have successfully competed in the Southern Region Women’s Football League for near on a decade.
Reading head to Brackley Town, Premier Division of the Northamptonshire Women’s & Girls Football League, searching for their first win of the 2024/25 campaign. Many of the Royals squad have FA Cup experience but as a newly formed team, they’ll be looking to stamp their mark on the competition. Brackley beat Wallingford & Crowmarsh 3-1 to secure their place in the Second Round Qualifying for the first time in their club’s history.
Kick off at 4pm
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Ascot United will welcome Denham United, who compete in Division One North of the London & South East Regional Women’s League, to The Racecourse. Denham hosted Ruislip Rangers in a very convincing 8-0 win in the First Round Qualifying. The Buckinghamshire side have had a mixed start to the season with two wins and two losses to their name whilst the Yellas have signalled intent as they remain unbeaten in three games with an impressive goal tally to match. Theoretically Ascot have the upper hand against the Tier 6 side as they bring a wealth of experience to the competition, however it took an own goal in the Third Round Qualifying for cup giants Millwall Lionesses to knock Denham out last season.
Kick off at 4:30pm
Woodley United head to familiar opponents Oxford City at Marsh Lane in what will likely be a tightly contested game as just a point separates the pair in the league table currently after 3 games played.
The pair shared the spoils when they faced one another in the 2023/24 season with both sides winning at their respective home grounds. Oxford City have struggled to make it past the Second Round Qualifying in recent years so Woodley will be looking to capitalise on the chance to progress in the cup.
Kick off at 11am
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Ashridge Park, of Division One in the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League, are newcomers to the competition who automatically qualified for the round when their First Round Qualifying opponents failed to raise a team. They head to Newport Pagnell Town, who ply their trade in Division South of the East Midlands Womens Regional Football League, at Willen Road. The Swans beat their derby side and fellow league competitors New Bradwell St Peter 2-1 one in a tightly contested First Round Qualifying tie.
