Photos courtesy of the Newbury Weekly News

The scoring was opened on 14 minutes after good work by Beesley down the left hand channel. She forced her way into the penalty area, skipping past the defender and firing a low shot across the face of goal. Cutting in from the opposite flank was Newbury skipper, Leanne Creese. She got in front of her marker and connected with the cross, supplying a cool first time finish, giving her side a one nil lead.

Newbury were playing with a lot of confidence and were really getting into their stride. After Parr won possession again in midfield, she fed Rachel Panting, who linked superbly with Creese on the right. She shot again, this time from a wide position and although her effort had the keeper beat, it agonisingly just clipped the top of the cross bar and went over.

Whilst Reading were still carrying a threat going forward, Newbury’s back line was holding firm and remained in charge. Newbury almost scored a second goal from a long downfield clearance by keeper, Chloe Hunt. Beesley, alone up front, latched onto the ball and raced clear of the visitor’s defence. She couldn’t find a way past the advancing goalkeeper however, but did gain her side a corner. Creese took the corner kick and her cross was well met with a header from Povey that just sailed wide of the upright.

As the half hour mark approached, Newbury were ramping up the pressure, with two further corners in quick succession. The best scoring chance fell to Parr, who’s near post header narrowly skimmed the top of the bar. Finally the lead was doubled for Newbury on the stroke of half time after Beesley was again fouled just outside of the area wide left. Creese took the direct free kick and slammed the ball over the goalkeeper’s head for two nil.

As expected after half time, all of the early pressure came from Reading, as they tried to find a way back into the match. But then Newbury’s Sophie Self broke up one attack and played a terrific ball down the line to Panting. Her cross from the right nearly picked out Beesley in the 6 yard box, but for some last ditch defending by Reading and they were able to scramble the ball to safety.

The Reading defender sustained an injury as a result of that challenge and had to be withdrawn after a 3 minute gap for treatment on the field. When play re-started, Newbury found it difficult to get out of their own half, as they faced continued Reading pressure. In the 64th minute Reading were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area, when it appeared that Newbury’s Povey had had the foul committed against her, rather than by her. The sense of injustice was compounded when Reading scored from the resulting free kick to make it 2-1. The shot from the free kick headed towards the top corner, although Hunt in goal was able to reach it and palm it downwards. Unfortunately the Reading striker was first to react and stabbed the ball just inside the post.

In an effort to shift the momentum back Newbury’s way, Kendall Gilmour was brought on in place of Reed on 76 minutes. Unfortunately for Newbury, Reading levelled the scores almost immediately following a corner from the right. The swivel and finish from the striker 8 yards out was simply too good and made it two goals apiece with only 13 minutes left to play.

Newbury’s players did summon the strength to make a couple of late attacks, with Parr and Gilmour both having attempts on goal in the closing stages. But it wasn’t to be for Newbury and the game finished as a 2-2 draw. Newbury took a lot of confidence from the fact that Reading Ladies are second in Division One of the Southern Region Women’s League and they have not lost a game all season.

Unused sub: Zoe Davie