A hat-trick from Rachel Daly saw Aston Villa come from behind to beat Reading in the Women’s Super League.
Lauren Wade gave Reading an early lead but Daly scored two headed goals to put Villa ahead before the break.
Reading’s afternoon went from bad to worse in the second half as goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns was sent off for a foul on Kirsty Hanson.
Daly sealed her excellent performance after she beat substitute keeper Grace Moloney from the penalty spot.
The hosts were the dominant side at Villa Park and had 23 attempts on goal compared to Reading’s seven.
Wade’s opener gave hope to the visitors yet their aspirations for a second win of the season were crushed by Daly by half-time.
Burns’ dismissal saw Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Moloney appear in a Royals shirt for the first time since September.
But she was beaten from the spot by Daly only minutes after coming on after Gemma Evans fouled the Villa striker inside the box.
The result sees Aston Villa sit fifth in the WSL with 12 points. Reading are second-bottom with three.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Aston Villa Women
Formation 4-3-3
- 21Leat
- 2Mayling
- 15Patten
- 14Turner
- 33Pacheco
- 19BlindkildeSubstituted forMcLoughlinat 79′minutes
- 6Corsie
- 10DaliSubstituted forMullettat 90+3′minutes
- 7Lehmann
- 8DalySubstituted forGoodwinat 90+3′minutes
- 20HansonSubstituted forGregoryat 69′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Hampton
- 9Gielnik
- 16McLoughlin
- 18Gregory
- 26Goodwin
- 35Mullett
Reading Women
Formation 3-4-3
- 25BurnsBooked at 65mins
- 3Mukandi
- 5Evans
- 17CaldwellSubstituted forCooperat 62′minutes
- 9Eikeland
- 37PrimmerSubstituted forMoloneyat 70′minutes
- 27Vanhaevermaet
- 28Woodham
- 11WadeSubstituted forBrysonat 62′minutes
- 23Rowe
- 10Dowie
Substitutes
- 1Moloney
- 2Bryson
- 14Cooper
- 18Jane
- 30Poulter
- 33Meadows-Tuson
- 51Troelsgaard
- Referee:
- Adam Herczeg
- Attendance:
- 4,566
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa Women 3, Reading Women 1.
Second Half ends, Aston Villa Women 3, Reading Women 1.
Foul by Freya Gregory (Aston Villa Women).
Deanna Cooper (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Georgia Mullett replaces Kenza Dali.
Substitution, Aston Villa Women. Isobel Goodwin replaces Rachel Daly.
Attempt missed. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross.
Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Natasha Dowie (Reading Women).
Foul by Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women).
Rachel Rowe (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross.
Alisha Lehmann (Aston Villa Women) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Gemma Evans (Reading Women).
Attempt saved. Rachel Daly (Aston Villa Women) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross.
Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Deanna Cooper.
Attempt blocked. Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Anna Patten (Aston Villa Women) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Kenza Dali with a cross.
Corner, Aston Villa Women. Conceded by Faye Bryson.
Attempt missed. Deanna Cooper (Reading Women) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
