Reading suffered their first defeat in the Barclays Women’s Championship with a 4-1 loss to Southampton. 

The Royals were behind early after a goal from the dangerous Molly Pike with Katie Wilkinson converting from the spot before half-time. 

Southampton withstood pressure from the hosts at the Select Car Leasing Stadium before Atlanta Primus and Jemma Purfield put the game to bed as Charlie Estcourt scored a late consolation. 

Pike had the first shot of the game, sending a strike just wide of Emily Orman’s goal and in the 10th minute, found the back of the net. 

The midfielder, who joined from Leicester City this summer, chested down a ball over the backline and slotted the ball past Orman. 

Josie Longhurst and Deanna Cooper forced Kayla Rendell into saves as the Royals looked for a route back into the game, but Pike continued to cause trouble in the box, winning a penalty after being fouled by the keeper. 

Wilkinson stepped up to take the spot-kick which was fired with power into the roof of the net to see the away side double their lead in the 28th minute. 

Reading rang the changes in the second half to see them dominate possession and chances as Paige Peake was forced into a last-ditch tackle to deny Charlie Wellings a tap-in at the near post. 

Primus stopped the Royals’ momentum as she scored her first Southampton goal in the 73rd minute as her shot deflected in off a Reading defender. 

Purfield headed home the fourth with eight minutes remaining, connecting cleanly with the rebound after Sophia Pharoah had rattled the crossbar. 

Estcourt denied the Saints a clean sheet as she volleyed home a corner from Freya Gregory in injury time. 

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