Oxford City Women lost 4-1 to Reading  at the MGroup Stadium this afternoon in an entertaining encounter played in atrocious conditions.

With rain falling from leaden skies throughout the 90 minutes , two goals from Tia Johnson and a b race from sub Tyra Wilson earned The Royals all three points despite a stunning strike from City captain Billie Bough-French.

City started strongly with Yas Edwards forcing the first save of the afternoon after just 25 seconds and most of the play in the Reading half of the pitch with Edwards having a ‘goal' controversially disallowed for offside after 20 minutes.

Even so,  City looked comfortable but then after 28 minutes the visitors opened the scoring against the run of play when Johnson let fly with a low skidding effort from 20 yards that zipped past Maskell to give Reading a 1-0 lead.

The Royals then looked a far more dangerous side although Edwards again tested the handling of away keeper Sophie Butler with a strong header as they pushed for a leveller. However, on the stroke of half time Johnson again fired in from similar range and City were 2-0 down at the break after matching the visitors in all but goals.

Sub Sophie Lester went close soon after the break and then Bough-French let fly with the Goal of the Season to pull her side back into the game. Briefly.

30 yards from goal the skipper hammered a free kick at goal that left Butler with just one option: watch and admire.

The comeback was very much on but before City could push for an equaliser the two goal cushion was restored as Wilson let fly from 25 yards with a looping effort that flew over Maskell and made it 3-1

Still City battled for everything but as the rain finally relented Wilson netted a fourth in the final minute and this talented young City side could once again only dream of what might have been.

CITY

Maskell, Durham, Davis, Bough-French, Ayers, Walecki, Parsons, Craven, Edwards, Harris, E White

ROLLING SUBS
Ranxha, L White, O’Leary, Lester, Tayman

Att:  267

Report by Chris 'tap on the head'. Williams, pictures Darrell 'water in the lens' Fisher