Match ends, Reading Women 1, Tottenham Hotspur Women 0.
Reading moved seven points clear of the Women's Super League relegation zone as Amy Turner's first-half own goal gave them victory over Tottenham.
Turner nodded in during a mix-up with Becky Spencer after the keeper tipped a long-range shot from Tia Primmer on to the crossbar at the Madesjki Stadium.
Despite being beset by a flu outbreak, Reading controlled the game in the first half and would have extended their lead but for Spencer diverting captain Emma Harries' volley against the bar.
Tottenham looked sharper after the break, only to find themselves indebted to Spencer again when she produced another inspired save to deny Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen from close range.
Reading visibly tired in the latter stages and had keeper Jacqueline Burns to thank for thwarting Drew Spence and tipping away a shot from substitute Nikola Karczewska.
Kelly Chambers' side hung on to climb one place to ninth with their first clean sheet and second win of the campaign, while Tottenham remain in seventh.
Forward Harries, a 20-year-old youth product captaining Reading side for the first time, was a persistent threat and had begun to celebrate converting from Primmer's left-wing cross when Spencer pulled off one of several early stops.
Spurs were considerably more dangerous after introducing Celin Bizet, Kerys Harrop and Chioma Ubogagu just before the 70-minute mark, but a third defeat in four WSL games puts them at risk of being cut adrift from the top six.
Line-ups
Reading Women
Formation 3-5-2
- 25Burns
- 2Bryson
- 5Evans
- 14CooperSubstituted forCaldwellat 45'minutes
- 9Eikeland
- 37PrimmerSubstituted forJaneat 90'minutes
- 51Troelsgaard
- 27Vanhaevermaet
- 28Woodham
- 11Wade
- 12HarriesSubstituted forWellingsat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Wellings
- 15Hendrix
- 17Caldwell
- 18Jane
- 30Poulter
Tottenham Women
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 22Spencer
- 4TurnerSubstituted forUbogaguat 69'minutes
- 5Bartrip
- 3Zadorsky
- 13AleSubstituted forHarropat 69'minutes
- 25Summanen
- 15James
- 7NazSubstituted forIldhusøyat 69'minutes
- 24Spence
- 29Neville
- 23AyaneSubstituted forKarczewskaat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Korpela
- 6Harrop
- 8Cho
- 9Karczewska
- 14Ildhusøy
- 18Ubogagu
- 26Pearse
- 39Gunning-Williams
- Referee:
- Carl Brook
- Attendance:
- 1,052
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Reading Women 1, Tottenham Hotspur Women 0.
Post update
Foul by Nikola Karczewska (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Post update
Jacqueline Burns (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Celin Ildhusøy (Tottenham Hotspur Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Shelina Zadorsky.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading Women. Becky Jane replaces Tia Primmer.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Jacqueline Burns.
Post update
Attempt saved. Nikola Karczewska (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Chioma Ubogagu with a cross.
Post update
Ashleigh Neville (Tottenham Hotspur Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Lauren Wade (Reading Women).
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Wellings (Reading Women) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Justine Vanhaevermaet with a headed pass.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Amalie Eikeland.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Chioma Ubogagu (Tottenham Hotspur Women) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Drew Spence.
Post update
Foul by Eveliina Summanen (Tottenham Hotspur Women).
Post update
Faye Bryson (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Nikola Karczewska replaces Rosella Ayane.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading Women. Charlie Wellings replaces Emma Harries because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt saved. Drew Spence (Tottenham Hotspur Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kerys Harrop with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Conceded by Lily Woodham.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur Women. Chioma Ubogagu replaces Amy Turner.
Comments
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blimey, as many comments as there was fans at the stadium today. I did watch most of it but the standard of the football was lousy at best. Why does the Reading keeper throw herself on the floor every time she catches the ball?
It's no wonder people don't go and watch when it's as poor as this
Slow and lumbering.
All the media predictions, after the Euros, were convinced spectator attendance in the WSL would skyrocket thereafter.....
......Not at this match.
Even though bbshe have pumped huge amounts of our licence fee payers money into this.
It really hasn't moved on, shame really.
Overall very poor ! Unimpressed . Pains me to say the only Womens team impressed with was Man Utd and possibly Chelsea, Man City, the rest are quite poor .
The standard was woeful.