Reading FC Women suffered WSL defeat for the first time since early October as Kayleigh Green scored twice in a comfortable 4-1 victory for Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Royals came into the afternoon on the back of a five-game winning run but they never really turned up as the Seagulls raced into a 4-0 lead before Amalie Eikeland clawed one back late on.

Kelly Chambers made just one change from the team that beat Everton 2-1 last weekend, match-winner Tia Primmer coming into the side for Justine Vanheavermaet who went off injured against the Toffees.

Brighton started on top and had a flurry of early half-chances, going closest when Aileen Wheelan stole the ball on the edge of the Reading box before firing an effort wide of the far post.

Slowly though, Chamber’s side started to find their footing on a wet day and Sanne Troelsgaard hit the Royals’ first shot wide before Natasha Dowie was very nearly played through by Deanna Rose - only to be forced slightly wide.

Brighton then almost took the lead directly from a corner when Grace Moloney just managed to punch it clear under a crowd of bodies. The save though only delayed the inevitable as the home side did indeed make it 1-0 moments later. Another corner was swung in and this time Moloney was rooted to her line as Kayleigh Green headed in from close range.

Reading saw a somewhat desperate appeal for a penalty turned down shortly after when Lily Woodham went over under a challenge from Brighton keeper Megan Walsh, the Reading player subsequently booked for diving.

Buoyed by their bright start, the Seagulls continued to pour forward after taking the lead and very nearly doubled their advantage from another corner but this time Moloney managed to push over a point-blank header before making another smart save from the ensuing set-piece.

Just before the half-time interval, Brighton thought they had finally found their second when Victoria Williams headed home from her side’s eighth corner of the day but it was swiftly ruled out for a foul on Dowie.

Chambers reacted to the sluggish first half by bringing on Rachel Rowe for Primmer but Brighton continued right where they left off. Just moments after the break Inessa Kaagman picked out Ellie Brazil free in the box but she couldn’t quite take the ball down and shoot.

Whelan was the next Brighton player to go close, seeing a shot from an extremely tight angle take a touch off the crossbar.

Some terrific hold-up play from Dowie nearly saw Reading draw level but Rowe’s shot was blocked when the ball broke her way six yards from goal.

It had been coming almost from the moment that Brighton got their first, but they finally did make it 2-0 in the 51st minute. Green, scorer of the opening goal, was played through on the left side of Reading’s box and the striker made no mistake with a smart prodded finish past Moloney.

Brighton put the game out of reach on the hour mark as their tenth corner of the afternoon was tapped over the line by Whelan following a goal-mouth scramble.

Emma Koivisto then added a fourth in the 68th minute when she powered a shot past Moloney and into the bottom corner after the ball broke to her at the back post.

The day could have gotten even worse for Reading when Troelsgaard seemed to hit out at Koivisto but the referee let it go unpunished despite the vocal Brighton complaints.

Reading did get one back in the 88th minute when Amalie Eikeland saw her mis-hit cross loop over Walsh and into the back of the net but it was much too little too late as Brighton ran out 4-1 winners to end the Royals’ five-match winning streak.

READING FC XI: Moloney, Bryson, Evans, Harding, Woodham (Roberts 89’), Primmer (Rowe 46’), Troelsgaard, Eikeland, Harries, Rose (Cooper 70’), Dowie