After taking the lead in the opening eight minutes, through a Beth Mead penalty, not many people would have expected Sunderland Ladies to be pleased with just a point after such a fantastic start to the game. However, but after ending the game with only 10 players, they were happy to see the game out and share the spoils.
Game of penalties
The game was decided from 12 yards after both teams found the back of the net via penalties. Mead was fouled by Molly Bartrip inside the box early in the game after cutting inside and losing her marker; Bartrip had only one option and brought Mead down. She almost got away with it after Mead's penalty was saved, but thankfully for Sunderland she managed to tuck away the rebound after a penalty she described as: "Not the best I've ever taken".
However the Royals would get their chance from 12 yards in the 74th minute of the game following a handball by Megan Beer which resulted in a red card, providing a double blow to the ladies as Helen Ward converted the chance to draw Reading level. But Mead insists that the squad "managed the game well" following Beer's dismissal and admits they were hoping to "get something on the break" but they failed to mount any clear chances.
Desperate for a win
Mead admitted that the ladies are "disappointed again" and doesn't believe it is "good enough" but she remains confident and believes there is no "pressure" just yet. Mead is confident that Sunderland have proved they can "compete" in WSL 1 and she feels they are showing that in "every game" which makes the results even more "frustrating" for them. However, she is pleased that they have "another point on the board" and the ladies will now move on in search of all three.