Report: Bristol City 1-1 Reading (4-5).

City ended their FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Reading, with the Royals picking up the bonus point in the penalty shootout.

City almost took the lead inside as minute when Jesse Woolley’s wicked cross was headed just over by Mari Ward.

A mix-up at the back led to Reading’s first chance of the game, as Charlie Estcourt saw her effort blocked by Sille Struck.

Maya Kendall was causing carnage early on in the 18-year-olds full debut for the club, and her deft touch into the path of Ella Powell led to a dangerous cross from the Welsh international, which narrowly evaded everyone in red.

City took the lead when Ward was released in behind the visiting defence before cutting back for Shania Hayles, who tucked her shot past the outstretched Eve Annets and into the bottom corner.

Ward was causing the Reading defence constant problems, and was involved yet again on the left, cutting inside and firing just over.

Emily Syme latched onto a long ball from Sille Struck, before floating a lovely cross towards Woolley, but her looping header was comfortable for Annets.

City started the second half brightly, with substitute Carrie Jones finding Jasmine Bull in space on then right, but her cross failed to trouble the visiting defence.

Jones was almost immediately involved again, firing a venomous strike towards goal, but Annets did well to get down and parry its away.

Amy Rodgers, who replaced Syme after the break, then floated a pinpoint cross into the path of Jones, who didn't get the connection she wanted on her effort and it was collected by Annets.

The Royals then hit City on the break, led by Amelia Elwood, who teed up Georgia Wilson, and she dragged her shot just wide of the mark.

Ward did well to beat her marker before finding Teisar in space, and her good first touch set her up to cannon an effort off the post and away.

Amalie Thestrup was introduced with just over ten minutes to go, and City’s top scorer was straight into the action, seeing her seemingly goal bound strike saved.

The visitors equalised after a scrappy ordeal in the area led to Charlie Wellings’ shot squirming past Benedicte Haaland.

The Robins almost snatched it at the death when Rodgers’ free-kick was met Woolley, but her shot from close-range went agonisingly wide.

That late equaliser for the visitors meant that we headed for a penalty shootout to determine who picked up the bonus point.

Amy Rodgers and Jamie-Lee Napier missed for The Robins as Reading took the extra point, 5-4 on penalties.

Words: Kory Cook