Match Preview | Reading Women v Oxford City
City travel to Select Car Leasing Stadium
Following a thumping 12-0 victory in the Women’s FA Cup last time out, Oxford City return to league action as they travel to take on Reading.
Much like City, Reading head into the clash after progressing in the cup last time out, and, in a parallel between the two sides, a lightning start for the Royals saw them score within just two minutes, just as Yasmin Edwards did for the Hoops last weekend.
Launched in 2006, a rich history for Reading Women has seen them rise through the ranks to compete in the top tier of women’s football, earning promotion to the FA Women’s Super League in 2015, where they stayed for eight seasons.
Relegated from the division in 2023, Reading finished 10th out of the 12 teams competing in the second tier the following season and then withdrew from the Women’s Championship in June 2024 following financial difficulties, reentering the football pyramid in tier five for the 2024/25 season, where they have competed since.
After operating under Reading FC Community Trust, the Women’s side was brought back into the main club structure in June 2026, with home games returning to the Select Car Leasing Stadium following a stint where the women played at Slough Town’s Arbour Park.
In a new, positive chapter, the club aims to focus on growing community impact and strengthening the pathway to the Women’s First Team, as they target the foundations needed to rise up the football pyramid once again.
FORM
READING - L W W
The Royals couldn’t get their season off to the ideal start, with a trip to take on Farnham Town on the opening day ending in a 7-3 loss for the side.
Since then, however, Reading have registered back-to-back victories, scoring 11 goals across the two fixtures. 7 of the 11 came against Fleet Town on September 13th, whilst the following weekend saw Reading progress in the Women’s FA Cup with a 4-1 victory over Beaconsfield Town.
Both clashes were played on home turf for the Royals, meaning that they currently boast a 100% record at the Select Car Leasing Stadium so far this season, a record they will hope to maintain with a third successive win as they host on Sunday afternoon.
Unlike City, however, Reading have yet to register a clean sheet so far this campaign, indicating that opportunity will fall for the Hoops this weekend despite the Royals’ strong home record.
OXFORD CITY - W L W
After starting the season with a 3-0 win on the road against Fleet Town, Anthony’s side narrowly lost out to AFC Portchester the following week after a late goal at the MGroup Stadium saw the visitors steal all three points.
Fast forward a week, and a ruthless City side put 12 past Penn and Tylers Green as they got their FA Cup journey underway in flying colours.
Now, the Hoops travel to Berkshire in search of back-to-back wins for the first time this campaign. Following last Sunday’s high-scoring victory, City will certainly be hopeful to carry that momentum forward, but amongst other positives, two clean sheets from three games, conceding just one goal in a league which has already proved to have many high-scoring affairs, is certainly an achievement.
Indeed, only Portchester can match City’s record of only conceding one goal in the league thus far (and after they conceded in the cup last weekend, City stand second to none), with other teams already in double figures. Long may that continue!
ONE TO WATCH - ALICE CURR
One who has got her name on the scoresheet in every game so far this campaign is Alice Curr, with her threatening both late and early interventions.
Indeed, her opening three goals of the campaign all came in injury time, with a 94th-minute goal against Farnham Town on the opening day, followed by 91st and 93rd-minute goals against Fleet Town the following week, indicating that City should be wary of her in the closing stages of the game as, in a close tie, she could be the one to change the narrative.
Her fourth of the term came as an early goal, as she netted against Beaconsfield in just the 6th minute of their cup tie last time out, showing that she can be just as much of an early threat as a late one.
Curr signed for the Royals over the summer, having previously played for numerous notable clubs including Ascot United, QPR, AFC Wimbledon, MK Dons, and Fulham. She has certainly proved a valuable signing for the Royals so far this season, and she’ll be hoping she can continue in such form.
Getting her name on the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon will mean that she keeps her scoring streak alive, as she strives to get on as many successive scoresheets as possible, but she faces a City side with a respectable defensive record thus far. Can they keep her out?
THE MANAGER - ED JACKSON-NORRIS
Jackson-Norris is currently in his second season in charge of the Royals after joining the club in July 2025, with a fourth-placed finish in the division last campaign. That result came as a welcome improvement for the side, who finished eighth the season prior.
Before taking the Reading role, Jackson-Norris had a successful stint as Maidenhead Women’s First Team manager, with a Combined Counties Women’s League Cup victory in 2024 and Women’s Game Manager of the Season at the Football in Berkshire Awards that same campaign.
The following campaign, he picked up another piece of silverware with the club, as Maidenhead won the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup in March 2025. He is therefore one with plenty of success in the women’s game, and will be striving to add to that list during his time with the Royals.
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