The winning goal for the Royals didn’t come until injury-time, following a dramatic last 15 minutes that saw all four goals scored.

It was a slow first-half as both sides returned to action after a month’s break and there wasn’t much in the way of chances for either side as they both looked lacklustre.

Reading were given a boost though when Aston Villa’s Katy Moran was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.

But the visitors dug in and put up a strong defensive display, which held out until the 78th minute.

Lauren Bruton finally broke the deadlock when she cleverly chipped the ball over Caitlin Leach in the Villa net to grab her first goal of the game.

It looked enough to give Royals the three points but no one knew of the drama that was about to unfold.

With just two minutes left on the clock, the visitors looked like they had grabbed a dramatic point as Ashley Robinson beat Nicky Davies from 30 yards to level the scores with an outstanding strike that gave the keeper no chance.

But Reading kept going and secured the win a minute into injury-time when Shelly Cox’s free-kick from wide right evaded everyone and went straight in.

There was still time for the hosts to score again, as Bruton was tripped in the area by Maisie Baker when running through on goal to extend the Royals lead.

The striker picked herself up to dispatch the spot-kick and seal the three points for Reading.

Jayne Ludlow’s in-form side are now unbeaten in the league since early April. They also sit third in the Womens Super League 2 table after an excellent run of results.

The Royals will be looking to continue their good form when they travel to the Hive on Monday to take on London Bees.

Reading Women: Davies, Grant, Horwood, Williams, Jane, Roche (Fletcher, 60), Bruton, Giddings, McGee (c) (Haines, 45), Cox, Bartrip.

Subs not used: Moloney, Keown, Nicol, Wilson.

Villa Ladies: Leach, Crackle (Baptiste, 84), N’Dow, McCue (c), Baker, Richards, Fergusson (Davies, 74), Moran, Wilkinson (Cusack, 64), Mayling, Robinson.

Subs not used: Myers, Petrovic, Merrick, Stringer.