The Reading Women went top of the league with a 3-0 thrashing of Southampton on Sunday.

The hosts began defensively - sitting deep and trying to rally as many numbers behind the ball to frustrate their high-flying visitors. And for the first 42 minutes their tight womanmarking worked.

Defending soundly and relying on their keeper on occasion, Southampton played their football on the counter attack and an evenly contested first half looked set to end goalless.

But as so often is the case in close encounters, it took a moment of individual inspiration to break the deadlock.

Royals frontwoman Lauren May [pictured] stole possession, edged into space and placed a stunning strike past the home goalkeeper to gift Frank Rodriguez's side the lead on the stroke of half time.

Looking to press home the advantage, Reading began the second period at a much higher tempo and Laura Woodley soon added a second, continuing her record of scoring in every game so far this season.

Five minutes later the result was put beyond doubt - Natasha Caswell firing home a splendid third.

The Saints regained their composure to stem the Royals flow and put and end to the scoring but it was all too little too late.