Reading FC Women are winless in three after Manchester United put in an impressive performance to beat Kelly Chambers' side 3-1 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. 

Leah Galton nodded in the opener within five minutes before Deanne Rose scored an early equaliser.  

A second from Galton pulled United ahead, and a second-half strike from Alessia Russo sealed victory for the Reds.  

The win ensured United would end Saturday in third place on the Barclays FA WSL table, three points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who play Manchester City on Sunday.  

Russo hit the crossbar in the first minute but it was Galton who got on the scoresheet first, heading in Hannah Blundell’s cross. 

Rachel Rowe pounced on a loose ball and played in Rose, who took advantage of a defensive error and levelled proceedings with a 16th-minute rocket into the bottom right corner.  

Then Galton struck again, combining with a pinpoint pass from Russo to put her side back into the lead on 25 minutes.  

A chaotic 20 seconds of the second half saw Ona Batlle nearly miss, her shot hitting the crossbar, but Russo was on hand to rifle home the rebound in the 43rd minute. 

Rose nearly clawed one back but was blocked by United goalkeeper Mary Earps, who produced a fine double save to maintain United’s two-goal cushion.  

And Martha Thomas prevented another, critically clearing a Justine Vanhaevermaet header off the line on 77 minutes. 

With the Royals unable to break through in the closing stages, it was enough to seal a vital win for the Reds to keep pace with the league leaders. 

It means that Reading are without a win since early February, and the gap to the top three has grown to eight points.

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