Manchester City recover from a goal down to cruise past Reading and enhance WSL title credentials

Manchester City maintained their Women’s Super League title push after recovering from a goal down to secure an ultimately comfortable 4-1 victory over Reading at the Academy Stadium.

It was a comprehensive win for Gareth Taylor’s side, who proved their title credentials to secure back-to-back wins following a 6-2 home victory over West Ham United a week ago.

The 2-1 defeat away at fellow WSL title challengers Arsenal now appears to be firmly in the rear-view mirror, as class eventually told.

However, it could have been a different outcome after Reading broke the deadlock inside the opening minute when Sanne Troelsgaard took advantage of some lackadaisical City defending and smashed a superb long-range strike past Ellie Roebuck.

City levelled the scores with a quarter of an hour played thanks to Chloe Kelly, who showed brilliant tenacity at the near post from Lauren Hemp’s cross after Khadija Shaw could not quite bring the ball under control.

The game was turned on its head just five minutes later when Shaw scored her 18th goal in 19 WSL appearances by rising highest to nod home Alex Greenwood’s corner, despite Grace Moloney’s best efforts to keep it out.

Any Reading hopes of causing a shock appeared to be a distant memory when Kelly laid the ball on a plate for Hemp to slide in a third for City only two minutes into the second half.

Steph Houghton added a fourth goal for City with a brilliant free-kick from just outside the area which left Moloney with no chance.

It was sobering day for The Royals, who prop up the WSL table with 11 points from 19 games, in what is essentially a four-way tussle to beat the drop.

This defeat coupled with Leicester City’s 4-0 thrashing of Liverpool on Saturday means Kelly Chambers’ side are still in that dreaded relegation place.

The Berkshire club are back at home next weekend when they host Aston Villa at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on May 7.

Meanwhile, Taylor’s team are back on the road the same day when they make the relatively short journey to Prenton Park for a match against Liverpool.