Reading Women 3-5 AFC Portchester Ladies: Match Report

· Yahoo Sports

AFC Portchester scored five, including a hat-trick from Kim Fuller, to end Reading Women’s great run of form in a 5-3 thriller – if not a little chaotic match – at Arbour Park, Slough on Wednesday night.

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Team: Scarlett Bowcott (GK), Bethan Poole (Ava Broke-Smith, 65’), Sarah Thompson, Keziah Banduka, Jazz King (Lucy Bolitho, 16’), Captain Mia Parker (Belle Rowden, 55’), Ellie Szekeres, Poppy Whitburn (Ellie Manners, 65’), Keren Banduka, Nat Cowell (Georgia Hayes, 55’), Tia Johnson (Nat Cowell, 85’) 

Reading goalscorers: Mia Parker, 18’; Nat Cowell, 36’; Sophie Bell (OG), 41’

AFC Portchester goalscorers: Kim Fuller, 7’, 44’, 75’; Maisy Smith, 51’; Sophie Bell, 45+3’

Reading yellow cards: None

AFC Portchester yellow cards: Betty Barron-Clark, 87’

Reading red cards: None

AFC Portchester red cards: None

First half

In a topsy-turvy game, Fuller put the visitors ahead after just seven minutes, her cross from the left deflecting off the out-stretched foot of Reading defender Thompson and into the net. It wrong-footed the Royals’ young goalkeeper Bowcott (making her third start of the season and first home match under the floodlights at Arbour Park) for an early lead. 0-1. 

There was an early blow for the Royals with a delay in play after King appeared to have suffered a serious knee injury. The Reading midfielder was clearly distraught after being forced off the pitch, with Bolitho taking her place in an early change.

After a run of good performances and results, it was perhaps no surprise to see this young Reading team not only get themselves back in the match but also go ahead. 

Reading’s first shot of the match, a long-range effort 18 minutes in, was palmed away by AFC Portchester goalkeeper Sophie Betteridge for the Royals’ opening corner, which proved to be a pivotal swing in the match. From Johnson’s delivery, Bolitho’s fierce strike was blocked, only for Parker to react quickest and smash the ball home from close range for the equaliser. 1-1. 

In an end-to-end match, far too open for either coaching team to enjoy, there were chances at both ends before Cowell doubled the lead.

Reading’s pressure earned another corner and a couple of free-kicks but were unable to capitalise, with the best effort a long-range shot from Johnson straight at the goalkeeper.

In reply, Thompson had to be alert to head away another difficult cross from AFC Portchester’s Fuller, and Bowcott was forced to push away a shot from top goalscorer Becki Bath.

Reading’s second goal came from another corner. Betteridge got her hands to Johnson’s inswinging delivery but only as far as Cowell, who executed a perfect finish from the edge of the penalty area, wrapping her foot around the ball to rifle her shot into the top corner. 2-1.

Reading extended their lead with just four minutes of regular first-half time remaining. A great move saw Poole combine with Cowell to release Johnson into the penalty area, her angled shot hitting the post but rebounding off the unlucky defender Sophie Bell and into the net. 3-1.

If Reading fans were shocked with the sudden turnaround in fortune, it was nothing when compared to the reaction to the half-time scoreboard (if it had been switched on…) showing all square at the break.

Reading were unlucky AFC Portchester were awarded a generous free-kick, after the referee missed the first incident and foul on Parker. Although it was still a long way out, Fuller made no mistake with her direct, powerful finish, which flew past the outstretched arm of Bowcott in the Reading goal. 3-2.

The visitors pulled the score level inside time added onto the first half, with Bell making amends for her earlier own goal. With the Royals looking to get into the changing rooms ahead, Thompson passed the ball back to Bowcott, who, under pressure, delayed her kick a fraction too long.

That allowed Bell to capitalise on the error for an easy finish. Always horrible for any goalkeeper, but it was a moment to add to the learning-curve scrap book. 3-3.

Half-time: 3-3

AFC Portchester extended their lead six minutes into the second half, with Maisy Smith heading home a Fuller corner. 3-4. 

Shortly after, Reading manager Ed Jackson-Norris made the first of his tactical changes, introducing Rowden and Hayes for Parker and Cowell. 

Bolitho was unlucky again, her headed attempt from Johnson’s corner blocked on a busy goal line. That was followed by AFC Portchester heading wide from a corner at the other end too.

Substitutes Manners and Broke-Smith came on to help change the dynamic and add some fresh legs in place of the hard-working Poole and Whitburn. 

It was to no avail when AFC Portchester grabbed their fifth of the match after a deft finish from Fuller. Her lob from the left was executed perfectly – over the Reading goalkeeper and into the top corner – to secure her hat-trick. 3-5.

With five minutes of normal time to go, Jackson-Norris used his last roll of the dice to reintroduce Cowell, for Johnson.

Late efforts from Szekeres and Thompson looped over the crossbar, in the last acts of what was an extraordinary game. 

Full-time: 3-5

After what had been a comfortable last three matches (with victories over Oxford City, Fleet Town and Woodley United), it was another test of character and resilience for Jackson-Norris’ young side.

And, after conceding the early goal, they looked to have bounced back in some style – against probably the strongest, most experienced and streetwise team in the league. AFC Portchester had already won the League Cup (beating Wycombe Wanderers for the third time this season) and made the final of the Combined Counties Cup (with victory over tier four side Maidenhead United). 

Last Sunday, AFC Portchester took on Winchester City Flyers, with both teams on track to topple Wycombe Wanderers from pole position. A 90th-minute goal from City’s Annie Northwood meant the match finished 2-2 – a result neither team wanted – meaning Wycombe Wanderers were crowned champions at the final whistle. 

Next match

Reading only have one match remaining, which was due to be played this coming Sunday. This game is however now under doubt, with opponents Fleet Town unable to play it due to a lack of player availability.

It’s the second time Fleet have been unable to field a team, and the third attempt at trying to get the game played after the original scheduled fixture, back in February, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 

It’s possible the match may not be played at all, with the points awarded to Reading – in a similar fashion (and precedent) to the Woodley United game, which was cancelled for the same reason earlier in the season. 

It would be a shame for the Royals’ 2025/26 to end this way, especially with Reading and Southampton in a battle for what looks likely to be a fourth-placed finish. The Royals are currently ahead on goal difference (plus three) but are very much disadvantaged due to no additional goal difference being granted if they’re awarded an away walkover result.

League standings

  1. Wycombe Wanderers: 45 points from 20 matches
  2. Winchester City Flyers: 41 points from 19 matches
  3. Reading: 36 points from 19 matches
  4. Southampton Women: 36 points from 19 matches
  5. AFC Porchester: 35 points from 17 matches
  6. Beaconsfield Town: 29 points from 19 matches
  7. Oxford City: 25 points from 18 matches
  8. Fleet Town: 19 points from 17 matches
  9. Sholing: 12 points from 17 matches 
  10. Woodley United: 7 points from 18 matches
  11. Badshot Lea: 4 points from 19 matches 

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