Aylesford Ladies 3-1 Reading Women: Match Report

11/04/2024 04:52 AM

The Royals are out of the FA Cup, following Sunday's first-round-proper defeat in Kent.

After two earlier qualifying-round victories it was third time unlucky for Reading Women, ending their FA Cup run yesterday with a 3-1 defeat away to Aylesford Ladies in the first round proper.

A first-half penalty conversion from Royals captain Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins brought the teams level after Kara Richardson had put Aylesford ahead, but goals either side of half-time - from Rebecca Keyte and Alex Witham - were enough to ensure a place in the next round for the hosts.

With the jeopardy of the M25 (and M26) to contend with, Aylesford, Kent was Reading's longest away match to date. Let's not forget that, at this new (tier five) level of the football pyramid, there's no longer the luxury of overnight stays or executive coaches - meaning the players and coaching team (along with the small group of travelling fans) all have to set their own sat navs and make their own way to the ground.

Reading were up against an in-form and free-scoring Aylesford team: third in Division One of the London & South East League (a tier below), looking to bounce back quickly after relegation last season. They average three goals per match in the league, with a staggering 18 goals scored (and none conceded) in their three FA Cup qualifying-round games.

Reading manager Pedro Bruno announced four changes to the team that knocked Caversham United out of the Berks & Bucks County Cup last weekend, with Megan Giles, Santearna Spencer, Hoesli-Atkins and Mia Bradley all returning to the starting line-up.

Team: Cherry Preisner (GK), Megan Giles, Mollie Dench (Tia Lee, 88), Lilly Brooke-Cousins, Zuzanna Gajzler (Rosie Robinson, 88), Mia Bradley, Lucy Bolitho, Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins (Captain), Santearna Spencer (Jasmine Clarke, 88), Keira Morl, Sumayah Zayadi (Assia Fatri, 62)

Unused substitutes: Ellie Herbert

First half

With the match not starting until 3.30pm (with a full day of matches scheduled on the 3G surface), it was a new experience to see the Royals beginning a game under the glow of the floodlights.

From kick-off it was clear to see that not only were Aylesford comfortable in their home surroundings, but they were strong, confident and competitive. The referee gave an early warning to Zayadi after a heavy challenge in the opening minutes of the match.

Reading's defending was, relatively (the odd error excepted) resolute for almost 30 minutes before the hosts opened the scoring. The Royals only had themselves to blame when Aylesford's Keyte dispossessed a Reading defender who was trying to play out of defence after a short goal-kick. Her cross found Milly Penfold, whose effort was saved by Reading goalkeeper Preisner, only for Kara Richardson to react the quickest and tap home from close range. 1-0.

The Royals bounced back quickly in a hectic three-minute spell which first saw Reading striker Zayadi pick up a yellow card, and then, with her resolve unshaken, be brought down unfairly on the edge of the Aylesford box - the referee pointing to the spot for a Reading penalty kick.

Captain Hoesli-Atkin took responsibility and calmly dispatched her penalty into the corner of the goal - for her first strike of the season, and the Royals' first penalty awarded in normal play (knockout penalties excluded). 1-1.

As the first half entered time added on, Aylesford attacked quickly, with Ella Brian just too quick for the Royals defence, her cross from the byline perfectly executed for Keyte to side-foot home past Preisner in the Reading goal. A familiar cruel blow and another lesson to be learnt. 2-1.

Half-time: 2-1

With the dressing room a long walk back from the pitch, both teams stayed within the confounds of the 3G pitch fencing, and there were no changes made by either side at half-time.

The hosts pretty much continued from where they ended the first half and dominated the second half. The Reading attack, although enjoying some good passages of play, failed to test the Aylesford goalkeeper.

In comparison, Preisner, in the Reading goal, found herself very busy, with another fine display of goalkeeping. She pulled off some great near-post saves and stood up well to block a couple of really good opportunities - where the Aylesford strikers were clean through (and should really have done better) - to keep the scoreline respectable.

On the hour mark, Reading manager Bruno made a few tactical changes. On came Fatri for Zayadi, moving Bradley from defence into her more familiar and natural wide attacking role, with Keira Morl moving to right wing and Zuzanna Gajzler filling in at left-back.

Before any of these changes were even given a chance to work - and with 15 minutes still remaining - the Royals found themselves with a mountain to climb after conceding a penalty themselves with a foul in the box on Keyte. Aylesford's number 20, Witham, stepped up to blast home the spot-kick into the top of the Reading goal. 3-1.

With just minutes remaining, Bruno made a last-gasp triple substitution - Tia Lee, Jasmine Clarke and Rosie Robinson replacing Spencer, Mollie Dench and Gajzler - but to no avail.

Final score: 3-1

Attendance: 296

Although it feels like going over old ground and repeating a message I've certainly trotted out time and again, it's important to remember that this is a very young team (and coming up against some very street-wise, strong and experienced older players).

Reading are still in development, with many still getting to know to each other. Training comes at best twice a week, with the most established players only having been at the club for two months, and others for just a few weeks.

And although a nonsense (considering the Reading Women's team have had to rebuild from scratch), it's also probably fair to say that the Reading badge (and history) means every team they come up against has an extra edge - in trying to prove that they can compete against a 'former WSL side' (as Aylesford later tweeted multiple times to the organisers of the Adobe Women's FA Cup).

With the league fixtures still on hold, the Royals have another opportunity for cup success - this time in the League Cup - with a trip to local rivals Tilehurst Panthers next weekend (Sunday November 10, 2pm kick-off). See you there!