After another enforced break Reading took on a good Abbey side and in a closely contested game, were beaten by a couple of goals either side of half-time.

From the opening exchange the game was always going to be close, as both sides searched for the all important opening goal.

Mel Saunders and Hannah Sheehan started the game very well in the centre of midfield and were threading some good balls to the wide players, Megan Herbert and Olivia Gardiner.  Megan had the first chance when bursting clear from Mel’s pass, but was thwarted by some brave goalkeeping.  Hannah then split the defence for Millie Bilciff to run through, her first touch just running the ball too far and in the resulting clash the brave Abbey keeper was to eventually depart from the game.

The best chance of the half was from Reading’s best move.  Hannah fed the ball inside the full back to Olivia, who hit a superb cross into Millie 6 yards out, whose side footed finish hit the outside of the post.  Abbey were more direct with their approach and on a couple of occasions threatened, with the ball over the top to their very quick strikers.  Charlotte Muzeen and Sian ‘Spoony’ Wylie were working hard to prevent the threat this posed. However on 30 minutes it finally paid dividends, when a ball through the middle was well finished, over the outstretched arms of Kathryn Wood in the Reading goal.

Abbey took great heart from this and finished the half very strongly.  Only a very brave intervention from Kathryn prevented a second goal.  Just before half-time Reading nearly equalised when Hannah it a half volley from 25 yards,  that screamed inches wide of the top corner.

The second half got off to the worst possible start, when a long throw bounced into the box and the Abbey forward ran through to clinically finish low into the corner.  Abbey closed down the ball better in the second half. They were winning more than their fair share of tackles, reacting well to all the loose ball, which made it difficult for Reading to get the quality of possession they required to get back in the game.

For most of the half Reading were reduced to long range shots, as the Abbey defence was marshalled well by their impressive centre back.  Mel and Hannah were taking aim from long distance. The keeper failed to hold a long shot from Hannah, that Millie followed up well to cause confusion in the box, with the resulting loose ball falling to Megan Heybourne 10 yards out, but her shot agonisingly hit the top of the crossbar and went over.  Megan then put Hannah through with a good pass, but her 20 yard drive was very well saved, as Reading pressed for a goal.

Abbey were being pressed back a bit, but were always a danger on the break and on a couple of occasions were through on goal, but the finishing didn’t match the approach work.  All the same they ran out worthy winners on the day.

Very best wished for a speedy recover to both Tiff and Katie, plus Megan Herbert who after a very good first half, went off at half-time feeling unwell.

LC