Winchester City Flyers 3-3 Reading Women: Match Report

Reading Women and Winchester City Flyers played out a thrilling six-goal encounter at the Charters Community Stadium on Sunday, with the Royals having to settle for a frustrating 3-3 draw despite producing a remarkable comeback. Similar to other recent matches, the Royals found themselves on the back foot after just 10 minutes. The hosts raced into an early 2-0 lead through a headed finish from Charlie Snelling and a close-range effort from Vinnie Nkomo. However, Reading once again showed incredible resilience and character to fight their way back into the contest. Alice Curr’s eighth goal of the season began the revival before Bogi Tramontini struck to bring the Royals level – in a deserved comeback – with Reading wondering how they weren’t ahead at the break with the scores locked at 2-2. Reading continued to push after the break and were rewarded just after the hour mark when Tramontini broke through to grab her second goal of the afternoon, completing a remarkable turnaround to put the Royals 3-2 ahead. With the clock running down, Reading looked to have done enough to secure all three points, only for Flyers’ Snelling to score her second headed goal from a corner, leaving the Royals team to reflect on a hard-fought comeback, but also an ultimately frustrating and arguably disappointing 3-3 draw. I am sure that, come Tuesday morning (allowing for Ed Jackson-Norris’ 24 hours of ‘wallow time’), the focus will turn towards the positives to take from the performance, alongside addressing the areas of weakness exposed during the match. Emma Pearmine has once again assembled a competitive Winchester City Flyers side, and one that looks more than capable of challenging for the league title after finishing second in the 2025/26 campaign, just a single point behind Wycombe Wanderers. The Flyers have certainly proved to be something of a nemesis for Reading over the Royals’ last two seasons in tier five, having won all four of their previous meetings. Sunday’s draw, and disappointment at the end of the match, highlights the continued improvements and expectations of the team, with Reading finally taking points off their ‘thorn in the side’ rivals. With just four points separating the top six, the league table is already shaping up to be as competitive and closely contested as anticipated. All of the six teams will have their sights firmly set on challenging for top spot, meaning every point could prove crucial. While Sunday’s result will undoubtedly feel like two points dropped after such a determined comeback, at the end of the season, this hard-earned point against one of the league’s strongest teams may prove to be a valuable one in Reading’s promotion challenge. The Reading manager made three changes from the side which drew 1-1 against Southampton Women last weekend. With goalkeeper Sophie Butler not available, in came Scarlett Bowcott for her second start of the season.  Ellie Luscombe and Tramontini were also named in the starting XI, with Freya Morgan and Nat Cowell on the bench alongside Georgia Hayes, Keren Banduka and Macey-Nikiah Walters. Team (4-3-3): Scarlett Bowcott (GK), Bethan Poole, Keziah Banduka, Lara Moore, Poppy Whitburn, Ellie Luscombe, Ellie Szekeres, Mia Parker (captain) (Freya Morgan, 33’; Keren Banduka, 85’), Bogi Tramontini (Georgia Hayes, 68’), Sophie Bishop (Nat Cowell, 42’; Macey-Nikiah Walters, 72’), Alice Curr (Bogi Tramontini, 85’) Reading goalscorers: Alice Curr, 28’, Bogi Tramontini, 36’, 62’ Winchester City Flyers goalscorers: Charlie Snelling, 5’, 81’; Vinnie Nkomo, 10’ Reading yellow cards: Freya Morgan, 52’; Alice Curr, 62’ Winchester City Flyers yellow cards: Freya Twigg, 39’; Emma Whitlock, 39’; Chelsie Hay, 90+4 First half It was an opening 10 minutes that could have started so differently. Reading’s first attempt came with less than two minutes on the clock. The two Ellies combined when Luscombe’s delivery into the box found Szekeres, whose left-footed effort was saved by goalkeeper Ellie Parker to win Reading their first corner of the match. Although the resulting set-piece came to nothing, Winchester City’s first corner proved costly for the Reading defence. Snelling rose to head home at the back post and put the hosts ahead in the fifth minute. 1-0 . In a sign of things to come, Curr exploited the space down Winchester’s right, firing two early warning shots: first, a left-footed effort that went wide, followed moments later by a right-footed strike straight at the goalkeeper. However, the Royals were dealt a double blow when Flyers’ top goalscorer Hay turned provider, reaching the by-line before crossing for Nkomo to slot home from close range. 2-0 . In what is becoming a worrying trend, the Royals had been here before. This was the eighth time in their opening 11 matches in which they’d conceded first. It was also the second occasion they had found themselves two goals behind, having previously fought back from 2-0 down to beat Chesham United 5-3 last month. So, although they faced another uphill battle, they were far from phased.  Reading came close to an almost immediate response, with two excellent efforts from Tramontini. First, the Hungarian youth international’s goalbound header from Curr’s set-piece was cleared off the line by Laura Vokes, who was guarding the back post. Moments later, an excellent bit of play between Luscombe and Bishop threaded a pass through to Tramontini. Her shot struck the far post and rebounded across the face of goal, fortuitously going straight back into the goalkeeper’s path. Although Reading continued to push in search of a reply, Winchester remained a threat on the counter-attack and came close to extending their lead. It took a quick reaction and an excellent piece of goalkeeping from Bowcott to deny them, after Nkomo had forced her way through on goal. The young goalkeeper was alert to the danger, holding her position and standing tall to block the City striker’s close-range, toe-poked effort. It proved to be vital when, 10 minutes later, after continuous pressure from Reading, Curr pulled a goal back. The Royals striker released Parker, whose shot was blocked, but only as far as Curr, who remained composed to stroke home with her left foot. 2-1 . Curr was enjoying herself down the left and came close again. Tramontini released the winger, with her shot fired from the angle but saved by the goalkeeper at the near post. With Leah Why still sidelined following the injury she sustained during the match against Chesham, and currently in a brace while awaiting further investigations, there was more bad news for the Reading manager and supporters. Captain Parker appeared to sustain an ankle injury while competing for a challenge and, unable to continue, had to be carried from the pitch (with hopes for a speedy recovery). Morgan came on to take her place. After a lengthy delay for treatment, Reading picked up where they had left off, with City struggling to contain the rampaging Curr down the Royals’ left. Getting to the by-line, Curr delivered a dangerous ball across the penalty area, which found Tramontini. Facing away from goal, she showed great skill to control, turn and fire home, leaving the Flyers goalkeeper unable to keep out her effort and bring the sides level. 2-2 . It was no more than the Royals deserved, with the frustration and desperation beginning to show among the home side, as Winchester picked up two quick yellow cards. The second caution went to captain Whitlock following a heavy challenge on Bishop, which resulted in Reading being forced into another change during the opening 45 minutes of the match. The unlucky striker needed treatment for a calf injury and was unable to continue, with Cowell introduced to lead the line. It was the home side who would have been relieved to hear the half-time whistle, giving them the opportunity to regroup. For Reading, however, the feeling was very different, with the Royals players leaving the pitch wondering how – having recovered from 2-0 down – they weren’t actually ahead at the break. Half time: 2-2 After Reading had enjoyed almost one-way traffic towards the end of the first half, the second period began in a more competitive fashion, with neither side initially able to stamp their authority on the game. Tramontini and Curr continued to pose a threat, with individual efforts testing the goalkeeper in the opening exchanges. However, it was when the pair combined that Reading made their pressure count, taking the lead for the first time in the match. The Royals’ transition from defence to attack was outstanding at times, with Poole and Moore looking to release players further forward, while Keziah Banduka provided another attacking option, driving out from defence and joining the forward play. Curr was a constant outlet down the left and, after receiving a pass from Moore, threaded a superb ball through the City defence. Tramontini timed her run perfectly, breaking through on goal before demonstrating that she was equally capable of finishing with her left foot, neatly tucking the ball inside the post to claim her second goal of the afternoon and put Reading ahead. 2-3 . Reading have strength in depth from the substitutes bench and Jackson-Norris utilised his resources to refresh the front three, introducing Walters and Hayes in straight swaps for Tramontini and Cowell.  With the clock ticking down, and with chances few and far between, Reading looked to have weathered the storm.  But, as every team knows, you can never switch off, particularly when it comes to defending set-pieces. In the 80th minute, Winchester won only their third corner of the match, but it proved enough to punish the Royals once again. Snelling was allowed to run unmarked into the six-yard box, where she rose to head home for her second set-piece goal of the afternoon, bringing the sides level once more. 3-3 . The final late drama fell to Reading substitute Walters, who timed her run perfectly to latch onto Hayes’ long ball over the Flyers’ defence and race through on goal. With the chance to snatch a late winner, Walters saw her effort blocked by some excellent last-ditch goalkeeping from Parker. Full time: 3-3  While Reading will undoubtedly be disappointed to have conceded so late, their determination to recover from an early two-goal deficit was another demonstration of the fighting spirit within the squad. Nevertheless, having battled so hard to turn the game around, the feeling will be that two valuable points were left behind in another entertaining – but ultimately frustrating – 3-3 draw. The countdown is on! Just two weeks remain until the Royals return to home action at the SCL Stadium, with Chesham United making the trip on Sunday November 22 (2pm kick-off). It’s been a long wait for the Royals faithful to see their team back on home turf. So put it on the calendar, spread the word and let’s get another big crowd through the gates and give the team the backing they deserve as they take to the pitch in front of their home fans once again.  However, before then, Reading return to league action next weekend as they travel to Buckinghamshire to take on Beaconsfield Town on Sunday November 15. (2pm kick-off). It will be the second time the two sides have met this season, having already played each other in the FA Cup. On that occasion, Reading came out on top with an impressive 4-1 victory at the SCL Stadium and progressed to the next round. The Royals will be hoping to replicate that performance on the road as they look to extend their unbeaten league run to seven matches with a positive result. See you there!  Other league results AFC Portchester 10-0 Beaconsfield Town  Denham United 7-5 Sholing  Farnham Town P-P Fleet Town  Oxford City 5-1 Chesham United Woodley United 1-6 Southampton Women  League standings (top seven teams) AFC Portchester: 16 points from six matches Southampton Women: 14 points from eight matches Farnham Town: 13 points from five matches Oxford City: 13 points from six matches Winchester City Flyers: 13 points from six matches Reading: 12 points from seven matches Denham United: 10 points from seven matches