Reading threw away a two goal lead to lose 3-2 to Everton, increasing fears of a double relegation at the club.

Justine Vanhaevermaet's brace put Kelly Chambers' side 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, however Hanna Bennison pulled one back immediately before half-time.

Coming out from the break poorly, Katja Snoeijs levelled the scores shortly after the break.

The momentum was with the Toffees, and Nicoline Sorensen put the visitors in the lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

The defeat leaves the Royals second from bottom in the Women's Super League, one point clear of Leicester City having played a game extra.

With the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa still to play, the odds are stacked against Reading.

Boss Chambers said: "It’s a tough one to take, when you’re two-nil up, and I think we played some of our best football we’ve seen all season.

“So to go on a lose the game the way we have, it’s hard, it’s tough to take, especially as I believe once again we were the wrong side of the big decisions once again.

“The penalty, it’s never a pen, and unfortunately it’s just another example of where the level of officiating is in this league. Once it was given, the game swings in their favour, and it’s ultimately gone on to cost us today.

“We’re in an emotional position, in terms of where we are in the league, but there’s only so much you can do to control the outcome, but when you see these incidents going against you, it’s just so difficult to take.

“You wish you could show the officials the footage during the match, but until something is done to support the officials, the game won’t advance.

“Momentum is such a key factor in the game, and the ref making that decision instantly swings the game, and from there it’s an even greater challenge.

“But look I have to give the girls credit, it was a brilliant start and well worth the goals, obviously we were disappointed to give the goal away that we did, we lost our shape a little but we went in to the break with the lead which I think was a fair reflection.

“Then we were put under a bit of pressure at the start of the second half, defending deep, then the hard work was undone with the penalty.

“There’s no hiding from the position we’re in, and potentially some will say it’s a position we should be in based on the club we are, but we made a pact at the start of the week of what we want to look like, and how we want to apply ourselves in the final few weeks so I’m proud of the way the girls have handled themselves in training and today.

“But right now, it’s hard to take, but come next week we’ll be ready to get back to work and fight again."

This makes for hard reading for supporters, with the men's side sat two points inside the Championship relegation zone with two matches remaining.

A return to League One, for the first time in 20 years, and demotion to the Women's Championship, would be a disasterous campaign for supporters.