Match ends, Bristol City Women 3, Reading Women 2.
Bristol City WomenBristol City Women3Reading WomenReading Women2
Bristol City moved off the foot of the Women's Super League as Ebony Salmon scored the winner against Reading.
The visitors took an early lead through Emma Harries, courtesy of a defensive mix-up, before Charlie Wellings equalised from Salmon's through ball.
Jemma Purfield put Bristol City ahead after the break with a curling left-foot shot from the edge of the box.
Rachel Rowe fired Reading level again only for Salmon to win it with a finish from Abi Harrison's diagonal ball.
It was just Bristol City's second league win of the season, both of which have come in the past four games, as interim manager Matt Beard saw his side climb above former club West Ham and out of the relegation place.
The victory will also give them confidence before their Continental League Cup final against holders Chelsea on Sunday.
Reading tasted defeat for the first time in five league games and their frustrations were compounded in stoppage time as Rowe was sent off for a second bookable offence.
But Bristol City's leading scorer Salmon proved the match winner on a night where she recovered from a painful-looking collision with Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney in the first minute.
She would go on to assist Wellings' first-half leveller before eventually netting her 10th league goal of the season with just over 10 minutes to play.
Line-ups
Bristol City Women
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Baggaley
- 2BrysonSubstituted forHarrisonat 67'minutes
- 5Rafferty
- 3Evans
- 23Purfield
- 14PalmerSubstituted forMastrantonioat 54'minutes
- 7Pike
- 8Humphrey
- 11Wellings
- 10DanielsBooked at 50mins
- 9SalmonSubstituted forBissellat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Haland
- 17Bissell
- 18Collis
- 19Cook
- 21Harrison
- 26Mastrantonio
- 28Jones
Reading Women
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Moloney
- 11Harding
- 14Cooper
- 5Bartrip
- 3Mitchell
- 10BrutonSubstituted forEikelandat 58'minutes
- 6James
- 4WilliamsSubstituted forLeineat 87'minutes
- 23RoweBooked at 90mins
- 36HarriesSubstituted forJeonat 87'minutes
- 18CarterSubstituted forFishlockat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Leine
- 7Jeon
- 8Fishlock
- 9Eikeland
- 16Nayler
- 24Flores
- 28Woodham
- 31Roberts
- 32Childerhouse
- Referee:
- Rebecca Welch
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol City WomenAway TeamReading Women
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away22
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away7
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City Women 3, Reading Women 2.
Post update
Corner, Bristol City Women. Conceded by Deanna Cooper.
Post update
Foul by Amalie Eikeland (Reading Women).
Post update
Yana Daniels (Bristol City Women) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Rachel Rowe (Reading Women) for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Rachel Rowe (Reading Women).
Post update
Gemma Evans (Bristol City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jess Fishlock (Reading Women).
Post update
Ella Mastrantonio (Bristol City Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Emma Mitchell (Reading Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jemma Purfield (Bristol City Women).
Substitution
Substitution, Reading Women. Jeon Ga-Eul replaces Emma Harries.
Substitution
Substitution, Reading Women. Kristine Leine replaces Fara Williams.
Post update
Corner, Bristol City Women. Conceded by Molly Bartrip.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Abigail Harrison (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Yana Daniels (Bristol City Women) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City Women. Emma Bissell replaces Ebony Salmon.
Post update
Corner, Reading Women. Conceded by Gemma Evans.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Fara Williams (Reading Women) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Rachel Rowe.
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