Reading Women 3-2 QPR
Sunday 24th September 2007

Reading FC Women faced their toughest match of the season so far against a strong QPR team that came into the game following a double digit thrashing of Southampton last week.

The victory puts the Royals second in the league with a game in hand, maintaining our unbeaten start to the season.

The game started at a high pace with QPR showing their intentions to attack. These early advances were repelled by a strong Reading defence, marshalled by Kelly Chambers.

It took 24 minutes for Reading to take control as a good counter attack was mounted, with Stacy Wiggins breaking from right and threading a ball to Laura Woodley, who split the QPR centre backs and fired home a terrific shot.

The first half followed very much the same pattern, with good counter attacking and defensive play from both teams.

Emma Jayne Pearmine, starting in a holding midfield role after her return from injury, found herself in at the deep end and put on a credible performance, defending deep at times, but then pushing forward to thread some delightful passes to Jenny Webb, as Reading ended the first half in good shape.

Reading started the second half sharply and QPR found themselves on the back foot, with a string of early chances for Jo Chubb, Lauren May and Jenny Webb. It was Natasha Caswell who got on the scoresheet again, firing home the first of these chances on 47 minutes.

QPR refused to be beaten and were soon on the attack, with Lian Ryan and Stacy Wiggins, playing left and right back respectively, kept on their toes as QPR mounted pressure along the flanks.

QPR got their rewards on 55 minutes from a well executed corner and a superb headed goal. Reading responded quickly and five minutes later Jenny Webb scored the third.

Again, QPR did not let their heads drop and came out looking for their second goal, which they got some five minutes later following a great strike from just outside the 18 yard box as a lapse in Reading's concentration allowed their midfield player to run in from the left for a free shot on goal.

With 20 minutes remaining, QPR continued to mount pressure with Becky Sargent and Chambers being called on to make some timely interceptions, one of which threatened to see Chambers being carried off through injury following a strong tackle with the QPR striker.

However, putting on a big captain's performance, Chambers recovered and saw the game out. Both Chambers and Wiggins deserved a special mention this week for their overall contributions.

Reading keeper Charlotte Poole needed to keep her concentration, making some good saves, and Ryan making a goal-line clearance from another well executed QPR corner.

Polly New and Emily Smith entered the game during the later stages and had immediate impact, Smith getting herself into a great scoring position with blistering pace, only to be fouled by the QPR centre back as she raced for a one-on-one with the QPR goalkeeper.

New provided a fresh pair of legs in the holding midfield role and completely contained any further threats from QPR for the remainder of the game. This was a well earned three points for Reading.