READING FC Women picked up their second FA Women’s Super League win of the season in convincing style as they beat Bristol City 5-0 at the Stoke Gifford Stadium.

Rachel Rowe led the Royals to victory with a well-taken double, while Fara Williams, Remi Allen and Jade Moore were also on target for the visitors, who also missed a first-half spot kick when Brooke Chaplen rattled the woodwork.

Reading took just three minutes to open their account, Williams seizing on a deflection after a mix-up in City’s defence to rifle home a shot via the underside of the crossbar.

The second goal arrived on 17 minutes, Rowe latching on to a pass across the box and scoring with a powerful shot which went under keeper Sophie Baggaley and in off the post.

And three minutes later, Kelly Chambers' side extended their advantage after Williams turned provider, setting up a simple chance, which Rowe side footed home from close range.

The lead could have been stretched further 14 minutes before the interval after Allen was bundled over inside the box by Frankie Brown but Chaplen saw her attempt from the penalty spot crash off the bar and away to safety.

And Reading put the game well out of reach in the 66th minute when Moore netted her second of the night with a crisp half-volley from 20 yards.

She completed her hat-trick with a fine individual goal 12 minutes from time, firing in a ferocious low angled drive which flew past Baggaley and into the bottom corner.

Royals defender Harriet Scott said: “It was an emphatic result for us and we took our chances early on, which is something of a rarity for us, but then we continued with our momentum and didn’t let up.

“We knew coming into the game that Bristol are an aggressive side who like to hunt their opponents down, so we had to make sure we dealt with that and matched their aggression.

“Even though they came back into the game a little bit, our keeper Mary Earps made some good saves and we kept on scoring, which was very positive from our point of view.

“You can see how far the club is developing and this was another step forward.

“We need to be beating teams like Bristol but we also want to be competing well against the top sides as well.”

Royals are back in action tonight when they host Watford at Adams Park (7.45pm ko).

Bristol City: Baggaley, Brown, Kerkdijk, Matthews (Daniels 65), Humphrey, Turner, Palmer (Fergusson 65), Dykes, Allen, Hemp, Arthur. Subs not used: Caitlin Leach, Ellie Wilson. Booked: Matthews 37, Brown 42.

Reading: Earps, Rowe, Pearce, Potter, Scott, Bartrip (Linnett 70), Moore (Furness 77), Allen, Williams, Chaplen, Bruton (Green 79). Subs not used: Rebecca Jane, Mandy Van Den Berg, Grace Moloney, Georgia Clifford. Booked: Moore 36.

Referee: Scott Jackson.

Attendance: 573.