Reading Women threw away the chance of a win as Bristol City forced a late 3-3 draw as Ebony Salmon fired in a dramatic late leveller in a six-goal thriller at the Madejski Stadium.

Reading made the early inroads in this crunch Barclays FA WSL clash, Remi Allen and Brooke Chaplen scoring inside the opening 20 minutes.

But they were pegged back before the break by Charlie Wellings’ strike before restoring a two-goal lead when Angharad James netted at the start of the second period.

But Yana Daniels summoned an immediate response before Salmon’s late leveller.

Chaplen was at her creative best in the early exchanges for the home side, and Fara Williams twice came close to opening the scoring.

But it was Allen who got on the scoresheet first, getting on the end of James’ flick-on and slotting home.

One became two soon after, Chaplen capitalising on a poor clearance to round the keeper and double the lead.

Bristol needed a response before the break and Wellings provided it with a fine turn and finish into the bottom corner.

Kristine Leine missed a fine chance on the stroke of half-time, but the Royals’ third arrived soon after the resumption, James rising high to head home Williams’ corner for her first goal for the club.

But when Salmon got clear down the left and pulled back for Daniels, the replacement scrambled it home and Bristol were back in it.

The Royals then spurned chances to put the game to bed, and it came back to haunt them when Salmon burst clear and kept her cool.