READING FC Women suffered a 5-2 home defeat as Manchester City moved back to the top of the FA Women’s Super League 1 table.

An upset looked on the cards at Adams Park yesterday when Royals fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.

But big-spending City’s class showed after the break as they scored three more times without replay to maintain their 100% record with a sixth straight win of the season.

Kelly Chambers’ Royals fell behind in the fifth minute when City debutante Nadia Nadim planted a bullet header past Mary Earps from a Nikita Parris cross.

Nadim and Izzy Christiansen went close as City piled on the pressure, and they doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Claire Emslie dinked the ball over the on-rushing Earps.

However, Reading refused to lie down and reduced the deficit two minutes later when Remi Allen punished a defensive error before slotting home.

And the hosts restored parity four minutes before the break thanks a stunning 30-yard strike from Brooke Chaplen, with Ellie Roebuck helpless in the City goal.

Yet that was as good as it got for the Royals as City regained the lead less than two minutes later with a smart finish from Christiansen.

The visitors then began to dominate after the interval, but Reading kept their hopes alive thanks to a series of vital saves by Earps.

But Jill Scott opened up a two-goal lead one again when she headed home at the near post in the 56th minute to make it 4-2.

Scott then notched her second of the game just two minutes later when she converted an Emslie cross for what proved to be the game’s final goal.

Reading Chronicle:

Action as Reading FC Women battle with Manchester City at Adams Park on Sunday.

Royals’ forward Natasha Harding made her club debut in the defeat after signing a long-term deal last week.

The Wales international admitted: “It’s been a bit like being thrown into the deep end a bit.

“Reading have been lacking in the previous years Is pace, so I hope I can adapt, and go from there.

“The girls can take a lot of positives from the first half. Coming back from two goals down showed good character.

“Brooke Chaplen’s goal was really decent. It was a great finish and she deserved it. She could have scored a volley a couple of seconds earlier.

“Both sides were raring to go after a few days off over the Christmas period. Fair play to the fans for coming out on a pretty cold Sunday. Hopefully they enjoyed it and will come back again.”

Manchester City’s Nadim also praised Reading’s performance on the day.

"It was an intense game, Reading are a great team to play against,” she stated. “When the score was 2-2, it really shows the character of the team.

“Reading were really believing and we came back from half time and dictated the game.

"I didn’t know what to expect because I don’t know Reading that well, but I knew they were physical and that they were going to come with all they have.”

The defeat was the first suffered by Reading GC Women since September and Chambers’ players will be looking to bounce back this Sunday when they host Arsenal Ladies in the Continental Cup semi final at Adams Park (2pm ko).

Reading (4-3-3): Earps, Jane, Pearce, Potter, Rowe, Bartrip (Scott 73), Allen, Williams (Linnett 83), Bruton, Chaplen (Harding 68), Furness. Subs not used: Moloney, Fletcher, Green, Clifford.

Manchester City (4-3-3): Roebuck, Stokes, Beattie, Houghton, McManus, Walsh, Emslie, Scott, Christiansen, Parris (Lawley 73), Nadim. Subs not used: Hourihan, Jans, Stanway, Morgan, Spetsmark, Ross.

Referee: Abigail Marriott.

Attendance: 951.