‘Audacious’. The only word we can really use to describe the goal that had Football in Berkshire’s Abi Ticehurst asking Natasha Dowie ‘what sauce do you have with your chips?’.
If that’s not making much sense, you’ll want to watch the Reading FC Women strikers effort that secured three points for the Royals on Sunday at home to Leicester City in the FA WSL.
Reading have made a habit of scoring the spectacular strike in recent weeks with Deanne Rose’s effort against Chelsea worth a look as well, but the win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium was an important one, a sixth game unbeaten in the league, and a good test ahead of the visit to Arsenal on Sunday.
Understandably it was a very different game against Leicester, to the Chelsea one before Christmas with Reading seeing much more of the ball and having more chances than the one shot on target against the West London side.
Dowie’s goal game 14 minutes into the first half in front of a crowd boosted by a number of women’s teams who’d taken their own match cancellations as a chance to watch the game.
It was a lovely team goal that started with Rose who found Justine Vanhaevermaet in the midfield and her perfect pass found, Dowie. The striker chased it down and supplied a sublime left-footed chip from range over Demi Lambourne.
Watch Natasha Dowie’s goal for Reading FC Women vs Leicester City
Dowie had a further chance in the first half to put the tie to bed from the penalty spot after she was brought down in the box, but Lambourne proved equal to her ferocious strike this time.
That’s not to say Leicester didn’t give everything to get back in the game with Abi’s live blog of the game highlighting the Foxes second half in particular: “The Royals continue their unbeaten run with six games in a row. A tough fought second half with the Foxes giving everything. Ultimately Reading take all three points.”
Across the board, a team effort though saw the Royals home and the team will certainly take confidence ahead of the trip to FA WSL leaders Arsenal, though the Gunners surprise defeat to Birmingham City will give Reading boss Kelly Chambers food for thought.
Talking of which:
