With another solid defensive performance and their sixth successive clean sheet in the league, Reading totally dominated their encounter against a spirited Southampton.

Reading created early chances with Cheryl Williams and Jo Chubb going close, before Chubb opened the scoring after nine minutes when she received Josette Pearmine's pass, beat a defender and finished well into the bottom corner.

Reading were pressing continually, with the Southampton defence and goalkeeper working overtime to keep Reading out. The second arrived on 26 minutes with top scorer Laura Woodley adding to her tally when she side-footed in a Rachel Fell cross after excellent build up play involving Kayleigh Hines, Emma-Jayne Pearmine and Chubb.

The third came two minutes later when Emma-Jayne Pearmine headed in a Williams cross. Williams almost added a fourth but her long range effort was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by the Southampton keeper.

The second half continued with Reading on top, Kayleigh Hines scoring a hat-trick with three tremendous long range finishes each of which gave the keeper no chance.

The Southampton defence were throwing themselves into blocks and the keeper was using every part of her body to keep the ball out. Williams continued her goal a game tally with a clever finish after good work from Lauren May. Rachel Fell who was unfortunate not to score, created the eighth for May with great persistence after another mazy run.

Reserves 2-0 Fulham
The reserves gained a creditable win over Premier League Reserve Southern Division 2 Leaders Fulham under floodlights at AFC Wallingford.

The squad put in a very good performance against a strong Fulham side, and it was good to see Fi Trimmer and Lou Smith involved again after long injury lay-off.

The home side were awarded an innocuous free kick on 66mins which Trimmer, who came back on for the injured Ryan on 60mins, delivered superbly and Caswell guided the ball past the keeper with her head from 12 yards.

Welch then did fantastically on 76mins to beat her fullback and force a low save from the Fulham keeper and from the resulting Caswell corner Lauren May made it 2-0. May peeled off the keeper and glanced the ball low past the defender on the far post.

A very confident and solid performance against a very good Fulham side which will help to keep our players sharp for the end of season run in.