Reading Women bagged a second Barclays FA Women’s Super League win of the season against Everton with a winning goal from Norwegian substitute Lisa-Marie Utland in the second half.

The Royals broke the deadlock on seven minutes as Jade Moore got on the end of a drifted Fara Williams free-kick ahead of goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela to head home into the open net.

Everton's response was imminent and they equalised three minutes later through Chloe Kelly, who tapped home her third of the season from a yard out after Grace Moloney denied Simone Magill.

The visitors were struggling to deal with Reading's set-pieces and Moore helped herself to a second as Reading went in front again on 17 minutes. A corner was whipped towards the near post where Moore's stooping flick-on header flew past Korpela and into the Everton net.

But as they did before, Everton levelled midway through the first half. This one came from the penalty spot as Lucy Graham dispatched from 12 yards, sending Moloney the wrong way.

The second half was a much more cagey affair than the first, but Reading's substitutions had the desired effect as they began controlling the proceedings after 65 minutes.

Williams rippled the side-netting before completing a hat-trick of assists when her corner towards the far post was helped in by Utland for what proved to be the winning goal.

At the other end, Kelly was played through on goal with a golden chance to rescue a point but missed the target as Everton left Adams Park empty-handed.

Reading manager Kelly Chambers said: “It was a frantic first half. We needed to settle the game; we are a passing side who like to do that, but we didn't in the first half.

“It was important for us to dominate the second half like we did. All three subs make a big impact. We knew at half-time we could do better in the second half and have more control of the ball.”

On next week’s Conti Cup game against Lewes, she added: “We'll approach it like any other game. It's just as important as a league game. The girls have goals and they want to get to cup finals.

“It's as important as any other week. I think it will be a difficult game. I think they will pose us different problems to what we're used to.

“We need to make sure that we're switched on and we're ready. And also a big game because it's at the Madejski Stadium. We would like to get a good crowd there and put on a good performance."