Reading Women made it an unbeaten November as they eased to a 2-0 victory over high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Goals from Natasha Dowie and Emma Harries handed Kelly Chambers an important three points in the Women’s Super League, reports Ben Waite.

Brighton arrived at the Select Car Leasing Stadium sitting in third place, but it was the Royals who displayed their quality.

From the start, Reading were on the attack with Faye Bryson firing an effort at Megan Walsh. The in-form goalkeeper could only parry the effort into the path of Dowie who opened the scoring with three minutes played.

The England international striker netting her third goal since moving to Berkshire this summer.

Captain Natasha Harding filled in at centre back to cover the injured Deanna Cooper and the winger looked assured in defence. The vocal Welshwoman controlling the game from the back as Brighton failed to press.

The Royals kept the ball completing over a 100 more passes than the visitors as the first half proved to be a lacklustre affair.

Hope Powell’s visitors upped the ante in the second period with Harding called into action to deny Emma Koivisto with a well-timed sliding challenge.

Brighton then had the ball in the net, but former Royal Danielle Carter was called offside in the build-up just past the hour mark.

The nail in the coffin was provided by Harries with five minutes remaining. The striker scored her second successive WSL goal from the bench. A through ball from Justine Vanhaevermaet broke the offside trap and Harries calmly rounded Walsh to place the ball in the net.

It was a first goal in front of the home fans for the 19-year-old academy graduate after debuting during the Covid pandemic.

Reading head into the international break in 8th with a tough challenge against title hopefuls, Chelsea on the 11th of December for Chambers’ side.

Reading FC: Moloney, Bryson, Evans, Harding, Woodham, Vanhaevermaet, Primmer (Harries 56), Chaplen, Eikeland, Rose (Roberts 89), Dowie.

Subs (Not used): Stewart, Peplow, Woodcock, MacDonald, Lister.

Goals: Dowie 3, Harries 86