READING Women were left red faced in Bristol on Monday as they were defeated 3-2 by the Women’s Super League strugglers.

Reading opened the scoring on 13 minutes with Emma Harries netting her first senior goal. The striker, who has been with the club since the age of 8 finished off a well-crafted team move.

A surging run from Rachel Rowe caused confusion within the Bristol City defence, and a rare mistake from City goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley gave Natasha Harding the ball to play in Harries to roll the ball home for the opener.

Danielle Carter saw an effort saved by Baggaley before Bristol City equalised through Charlie Wellings.

A misplaced pass out of the defence from Molly Bartrip gave Ebony Salmon space to play in Wellings who finished under Grace Moloney for her first of the season.

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Carter then had the ball in the net after a goalmouth scramble before the official raised her flag for offside and the goal chalked off.

Yana Daniels forced a save from Moloney in the second half leading to a corner. The delivery was poor from Jemma Purfield but the full back was smart to react.

After the departing Angharad James lost possession after failing to clear the corner, Purfield cut in to loop an effort over a static Moloney to give Bristol City the lead.

Second half substitute Amalie Eikeland missed a golden chance to draw the Royals level when a free kick landed at the feet of the Norwegian striker. Eikeland’s poor effort was dragged wide from a few yards out.

The forward then made up for the miss winning the ball back from a goal kick before feeding the returning Fara Williams. England’s most capped player produced a trademark ball for the onrushing Rowe to smash home and level the tie with 73 minutes played.

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Six minutes later, Bristol had the lead again through Salmon. A lost Royals defence was pierced by a superb ball from Abi Harrison before Salmon finished for 3-2.

It got worse for Kelly Chambers side with the influential Rowe sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence. A lunge on Gemma Evans leaving the Royals midfielder seeing the first red card for any senior Reading FC player of the 2020/21 campaign, men or women.

Bristol move off the bottom while Reading remain 6th. The Royals now host Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday.

Reading: Moloney, Cooper, Bartrip, Mitchell, James, Rowe, Carter (Fishlock 74), Williams (Leine 87), Harding ©, Bruton (Eikeland 58), Harries (Jeon 87).

Bench (Unused): Nayler, Woodham, Flores, Childerhouse, Roberts.

Goals: Harries 13, Rowe 73.