Plymouth 1-1 Reading
Reading made the long trek to Devon to play title favourites Plymouth, who were last season's South West Combination Leagues runner-ups, and boasted the leagues only 100% home record this season

Reading travelled the day before in preparation and started positively. Good combination between Natasha Caswell and Laura Woodley saw Kayleigh Hines' shot drift over the bar.

It was then against the run of play on 24 minutes that Plymouth took the lead from a corner. Their centre back won a header, which fell to an unmarked player six yards who finished in the far corner.

This was now to be a test of not only Reading's ability but also their character.

For a ten-minute period Plymouth started to find a rhythm and appeared to be gaining control, but a tremendous challenge by captain Kelly Chambers on the dangerous Chloe Roberts seemed to spur Reading on again.

The equaliser came when Caswell combined with the impressive Rachel Fell, and then found Lauren May. It was her delicate chip which found Laura Woodley racing through to nick the ball round the keeper into the net.

Reading almost took the lead right on half time when Fell's pace took her past the right back. She laid a pass into Woodley who intelligently returned a pass back into Caswell's path.

She looked odds on to score, but just as she was about to strike the ball it took a huge bobble on the heavy pitch and her shot flicked the outside of the post and went wide.

Reading came out in the second half determined to take the game to Plymouth, with Woodley and Fell's pace causing the Plymouth defence all sorts of problems.

Our back four of Polly New (starting her first game since the opening day) Chambers, Becky Sargent and Emma Jayne Pearmine prevented Plymouth from giving Emma Wilcox in goal much to do.

Wilcox deserves a special mention as she had been ill for a couple of days, but played with confidence, showing good handling when required.

After 52 minutes Becky Sargent was forced off with an ankle injury, but Reading's squad depth was shown with her replacement being Sahara Osborne Ricketts, on her return from England U17's European qualifying tournament in Georgia.

Reading continued to press for the winner, with Woodley going close on a couple of occasions when played through by Hines and the hardworking Jo Chubb.

Caswell hit the crossbar and Fell's shot hit the side netting. Fell gave the right back a torrid time with her pace.

Reading were however not able to grab a winner and had to settle for a draw.

Assistant Manager Mark Allen said after the game, "We were delighted with the application the squad showed.

"To come from 1-0 down and dominate the second half; we fully deserved the point. We now have to take this performance forward into the rest of the season."

Manager Frank Rodriguez commented, "Not many teams will travel to Plymouth and earn a result, but the squad were excellent.

"With Luton losing to QPR, we are now the only unbeaten team in the league, and we need to maintain the spirit and application going forward to continue this run starting with a tough trip to Team Weston next Sunday."

Reading res 4-1 Oxford
Reading got off to a flier in our fixture against rivals Oxford City, going 2-0 up inside the first five minutes.

Laura Derlacki was found by Williams inside the opponents box after only 48 seconds, and she finished well under pressure.

On five minutes Kayleigh Mitchell won the ball with a strong tackle in midfield and played the ball wide to E.Smith. She slid a great through ball in to Welch, who finished well past the onrushing keeper.

Oxford City were shell shocked and struggled to get a grip on the game as Reading pinned them in their half for the rest of the period.

The influential Mitchell saw shots saved and go wide on 11 and 13 minutes but it took until 34 minutes before they could carve out the next real opening.

Welch failed to hit the target when past the keeper and as the ball fell to Derlacki in the box she lifted her effort high and wide of the empty goal.

A minute later saw the City keeper lucky not to receive her marching orders after handling outside the area and Welch's powerful free-kick was deflected wide.

The dying moments saw Welch and Mitchell waste opportunities when 1v1 with the keeper and Williams mishit when inside the 6 yard box.

2-0 up and comfortable at half time, the Royals looked to push on and finish the game early in the second half.

Strange replaced E.Smith at half time and this saw Reading start strongly in the second period passing the ball around well and opening up the City defence on a number of occasions.

It was only three minutes in to the second half that Reading extended their lead from a Ryan corner with Measham powering home a header at the back post.

Trimmer replaced L.Smith after 57 minutes, and on 58 minutes Derlacki grabbed her second and Readings fourth in somewhat amusing style.

Again she beat her fullback and made the byline but when trying to cross seemed to make poor contact and as the keeper went to see the ball wide at the near post somehow the ball crept in.

Williams saw a long range effort saved shortly before being replaced by Beales on 65 minutes.

77 and 80 minutes saw a Derlacki cross headed over by Beales and another Ryan corner headed wide by Measham.

On 81 minutes the lively Strange beat the left back with her trade mark step-turn and delivered a dangerous cross which was defended well.

Just when it appeared that Reading would keep another clean sheet Measham and Dickinson both got sucked to the ball and the City forward flicked the ball on for the onrushing midfielder who finished well past Gemmell despite the attentions of Trimmer.

Another 3 points and a good team performance although there is still more to come from this young side.

Manager Michael Butcher said, "It is another comfortable win but is disappointing that we do not finish more of our chances.

"Sometimes our decision making lets us down in the final third and we need to work on this for when we come up against the likes of Burnham and Havant."

Assistant Manager Craig Drummond added, "A positive result at times was not backed up by a positive performance. I am certain that the girls can produce the quality of football for longer than 15 minutes in each half and destroy teams within this league."