MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN 1, READING WOMEN 1
Georgia Stanway was on the scoresheet again but Manchester City were pegged back by a Jade Moore header as they failed to overtake Arsenal at the top of the Women’s Super League.
Stanway, who is pushing for a call-up to the senior England side, was playing in front of England manager Phil Neville at the City Football Academy and made it six goals from her last three appearances.
Moore levelled things up at the start of the second half and Reading held on as City tried to get the winner but were thwarted by several saves by Grace Moloney and some tame finishing.
Nick Cushing may regret not making any substitutions to change the game as his side instead had to settle for a draw as they missed the chance to replace Arsenal at the top of the WSL table.
City lined up in a 4-4-2 formation again with Stanway partnering Nikita Parris upfront again and she had some early success against the visitors with able support from in-form Caroline Weir from the left flank.
It was Reading who had the more realistic chances early on but they were from range – a presentable 25 yard free kick by Fara Williams was wasted while Brooke Chaplen also scooped the ball over early on for the Royals and Remi Allen tested Ellie Roebuck with an early shot.
City were slow to get into the game, with sublime touches from Caroline Weir and Abbie McManus looking to create overloads by joining the attack City still looked a little slow to reach their recent heights with Reading actively pressing City.
Keira Walsh’s cross to Nikita Parris was almost good enough to gift City the lead as it was bundled towards the goal but the ball was blocked on the line by Natasha Harding and cleared by Jo Potter.
After half an hour, City’s patient build-up was starting to create chances with Stanway finally giving Grace Moloney something to save with a shot through a crowd from the edge of the area.
Encouraged, Stanway tried again from even further out and managed to intercept a headed clearance from a Reading defender, controlling it before unleashing another trademark rocket which beat the diving Moloney inside her left post from over 25 yards out.
It was a fully deserved seventh WSL goal of the season for Stanway and her sixth goal in three games for the Blues.
Three minutes later Parris squeezed between two defenders on the run into the box and saw the ball break kindly off a third but slipped as she tried to get back into shape to shoot.
And Parris’ sumptuous pass almost sent Stanway clean through for another chance but for a poor first touch.
Gemma Bonner made a goal line clearance from Williams’ chance just after half time as Reading came back into the game.
Jade Moore equaliser as Reading Women defy Manchester City Women
Jade Moore had replaced Charlie Estcourt at half time and scored five minutes after the restart with a header off Williams’ corner as the visitors made the most of set pieces.
Chaplen, celebrating 100 appearances for Reading, blazed over as City continued to struggle from Reading set pieces in the second half.
City tried to retake the lead and both Jill Scott and Parris sent Stanway clear but Moloney made relatively comfortable saves as well as twice off Gemma Bonner later.
Moloney also stuck out a leg to prevent Parris from rolling the ball home as City laid on the pressure but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Parris slid in and made challenged Moloney for a ball into the area with 15 minutes to go and the Reading keeper bravely won a foul while trying to reach the ball before the City forward.
Stanway rippled the side netting with seven minutes to go and Parris forced a sharp save out of Moloney as she tried to shoot from the left.
Tessa Wullaert hit the bar with a 20 yard shot, Weir’s 20 yard free kick went over the bar, and Scott’s effort was saved by Moloney as City threw everything at Reading but the visitors held on for a point despite facing nine shots on target from City.
MATCH STATS – Man City Women 1, Reading Women 1
Man City Women: Roebuck, Bonner, Houghton, Beattie, McManus, Wullaert, Walsh, Scott, Weir, Parris, Stanway
Man City Subs not used: Stenson, Jans, Lawley, Nadim, Beckie, Morgan, Emslie
Goal: Stanway 33
Reading Women: Moloney, Jane, Pearce, Potter, Hearding, Bruton, Williams, Allen, Furness, Estcourt (Moore 46), Chaplen
Reading Women Substitutes not used: Pacheco, Bartrip, Davison, Laws, Woodham
Bookings: Pearce 68, Allen 90+3
Goal: Moore 50
Attendance: 1,015