Reading Women came from behind to earn a valuable three points against a strong and determined Cardiff City side on Sunday and our roving reporter Andy Bell gives us all the details...

Reading started their game against the Welsh visitors in the worst possible fashion - with just four minutes on the clock, a ball over the top from Cardiff's midfield was pounced on by striker Natasha Harding.

Reading keeper Michelle Beazley was quickly off her line to block Harding's shot but the rebound fell kindly to Ellie Smith who calmly slotted the ball into the empty net.

Cardiff continued to apply the pressure. A succession of corners resulted in another chance for Smith and although Royals right back, Harriett Scott, blocked well the deflection nearly wrong-footed Beazley who showed great agility to recover and turn the ball wide.

Reading slowly began to edge their way into the game and Natasha Caswell's through ball for striker Danielle Puddefoot was only just cut-out by the Cardiff defence in Reading's first meanignful attack.

Frank Rodriguez's girls were growing in confidence and after 20 minutes they started to look like the side that had led the division earlier in the season.

Kayleigh Hines drove at the heart of the Cardiff defence but couldn't find a final ball. Melissa Fletcher cut in from the left wing but her shot was blocked. Then came the breakthrough that Reading's pressure deserved.

Francesca Kirby made a lightning break down the right wing and her superb cross was stroked home by Puddefoot for the equaliser.

Reading continued to play crisp, passing football and they went ahead just before the break. Kirby won a free kick wide on the right when her quick feet beat the Cardiff left back. Georgia Walters' superb delivery into the box was headed home by Puddefoot for her second of the game.

The second half started a much more even affair. First Beazley was tested by a Cardiff through ball which she was quick to smother. Then Walters fired just over from outside the box.

Cardiff's Harding was continuing to cause the Reading defence problems and had a close call for a penalty turned down.

Boss Rodriguez brought on Sahara Osbourne-Ricketts in place of Walters and the change almost had an instant reward when Caswell hunted down the Cardiff right back by the corner flag and Osbourne-Ricketts was only inches away from connecting with her snap cross.

Excellent defensive work from Kelly and Amy Shaw - Kelly with a John Terry-style bandaged head - meant the Royals managed to soak up most of the late Cardiff pressure but there was almost a sting in the tail.

Harding's beak into the box saw her impeded by Beazley, who was harshly penalised with the referee's point to the spot. But the Reading keeper made amends with a great save from Amie Lee's penalty.

Caswell almost added a third late on when her beautifully taken free kick was up and over the wall but gloriously tipped away from the top right corner by Cardiff stopper Rhian Nokes.

But Rodriguez's women had done enough to win the game 2-1 and consolidate their second-placed position in the league!