ROYALS RELEGATED AS

READING 0 CHELSEA 3

Grace Moloney

Made a stunning save to deny a Cuthbert effort in the first half and would be harsh to lay the blame for either goal at the stopper’s door.

Emma Mukandi

Struggled to prevent the dangerous Lauren James cutting in from Chelsea’s right, never quite matching her for pace and power.

Deanna Cooper

A quiet display from the defender who seemed unsure whether or not to step up or sit back to nullify the threat posed by Kerr.

Gemma Evans

Could have done more to prevent Kerr having so much space for the opener and struggled to handle the movement of Reiten.

Brooke Hendrix

Slotted into the right side of the three centre-backs and was pulled from pillar to post by the dynamism of the visitors’ front line.

Easther Mayi Kith

Made an error which led to Chelsea’s second goal. Could also have done better to cut off the cross for the first. Some positive moments.

Justine Vanhaevermaet

Overrun in midfield. Could have got on the scoresheet with a header from inside the six-yard box which sailed over the bar.

Jade Moore

Used her physical presence to break up the play but seemed to tire as the game went on. Ultimately unable to create much.

Amalie Eikeland

A spirited, albeit futile, effort down Reading’s right, but probably needed to offer Mayi Kith a little more protection.

Deanne Rose

Made a visible difference up top. The start probably came a couple games too early as the Canadian was forced off on the half hour mark.

Emma Harries

Struggled to make much of an impact on the game out on the left. Took a nasty-looking knock in the first half

SUBS

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By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today

READING FC’s relegation from the Women’s Super League was confirmed after they were beaten at home by Chelsea who sealed a fourth consecutive league title.

The Royals needed victory to give them hope of survival but soundly beaten on the final day as Emma Hayes’ team secured top spot.

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The result means Reading finish bottom of the table on just 11 points as both senior teams at the club have suffered relegation this season.

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The game at the Select Car Leasing Stadium had plenty riding on it with jeopardy at both ends of the table.

The Royals needed a win to have a shot at survival, while a Chelsea win would guarantee them a fourth consecutive title.

Deanne Rose returned to the starting line-up for the first time since the opening day of the season, while top scorer Sanne Troelsgaard was dropped to the bench.

Former Blues defender Deanna Cooper picked up the first caution of the match just three minutes in when she was penalised for tugging the shirt of Sam Kerr.

Reading looked to use the pace of Rose on the break, an asset they have greatly missed all season but she was thwarted as she was tightly marked by the Chelsea backline.

Kerr should have added to her season’s tally but somehow conspired to volley over the top from close range with the goal gaping.

Match stats

READING: Moloney, Mukandi, Cooper, Hendrix, Mayi Kith, Evans, Vanhaevermaet, Eikeland, Moore, Harries, Rose

SUBS: Poulter, Wellings, Wade, Caldwell, Alexander, Perry, Primmer, Troelsgaard

CHELSEA: Berger, Ingle, James, Reiten, Perisset, Eriksson, Mjelde, Charles, Cuthbert, Harder, Kerr

SUBS: Musovic, Carter, Leupolz, Svitkova, Fleming, Kaneryd, Buchanan, Aboullina, Cankovic

GOALS: Kerr 18’, 88’, Reiten 42’

The visitors then came a whisker away from taking the lead when Erin Cuthbert struck the bar before Magdalena Eriksson put the rebound over.

The chances kept coming for Hayes’ side and this time they capitalised when Kerr got on the end of Guro Reiten’s cross and powered a header past Grace Moloney to make it 1-0 after 18 minutes.

Reading’s best half of the chance came a few minutes later when

Justine Vanhaevermaet latched onto a cross from Emma Mukandi and headed over the target from inside the six yard box.

Rose’s afternoon lasted a little over 30 minutes before she had to be replaced, presumably with an injury after such a lengthy lay off. Madison Perry took her place as Troelsgaard was left on the bench.

The Blues asserted their dominance and found a second goal before the break after a fatal error from Esther Mayi Kith.

REACTION CHAMBERS: ‘WE NEED TO BOUNCE STRAIGHT BACK’

KELLY Chambers reflected on a difficult day for Reading FC after they were relegated from the Women’s Super League.

The Royals’ fate was sealed on the final day with defeat to Chelsea, who sealed a fourth consecutive WSL title.

Reading finished the season bottom of the table after picking up just 11 points in what conspired to be a miserable campaign.

It’s a tough day, the league doesn’t lie,” said Chambers.

“You need to be good enough across the season but at the moment we can’t compete with the investment other clubs are putting in.

“You only have to look at the

January transfer window at the other clubs in and around us and the injection they had to make sure they stayed up.

“It’s been a tough season, I’m not going to hide from that. I’m very proud that we have been in the league for eight years and every year we’ve had the lowest budget and have been able to compete and find ways to stay in this league.”

The Royals ended five points adrift of escaping the relegation places behind Brighton & Hove Albion who finished in 11th.

Chambers’ team have been in the WSL since 2015 and the Reading boss in now plotting an immediate return to the top flight.

She continued: “The first one

(conversation) will be with the club to make sure what is next and where do they want to go with taking the women’s side forward.

“And then building a team for next year and making sure we step into the Championship ready to compete and be ready to bounce straight back up.

“We’ve missed quite a few players this season. We’ve had an injury hit season which hasn’t helped in terms of the squad size.”

The club has already confirmed that club captain Emma Mukandi will leave when her contract expires this summer with a squad overhaul expected in the coming months.as the club prepares for a new challenge in the Championship.