READING FC Women boss Kelly Chambers criticised her side’s defending after a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the Continental Cup semi final.

The Gunners scored twice in the final 10 minutes at Adam’s Park on Sunday to book their place in the final.

“I don’t think we shut up shop well enough, it’s frustrating for me,” admitted Chambers.

“It’s not as if Arsenal carved us open and scored, we gifted them goals and that’s something we need to work on because it happened last week against Manchester City (Reading lost 5-2).

“We should have beaten them, if we had shut up shop in the last 10 minutes we would have walked into the final.”

Arsenal went in front in the fifth minute when Beth Mead punished some slack defending from the Royals.

But Brooke Chaplen levelled just two minutes later with a stunning strike from distance to make it 1-1.

Reading, bidding to reach their first ever final, pushed for a second and saw Chaplen force a vital save from Gunners keeper Sari van Veenendaal.

The second half was much more of an open affair as both sides committed players forward.

Remi Allen was next to test Van Veenendaal then Arsenal’s Danielle Carter brought the best out of Grace Moloney at the other end.

However, Reading got their noses in front when Bruton fired home from the edge of area in the 70th minute.

However, Chambers’ side failed to see the game out as Viviana Meidama drew Arsenal level with 80 minutes gone before Jordan Nobbs scored the winner three minutes later after Maloney had made an initial save.

Remi Allen went close to sending the tie to extra time with a late chance for the Royals only for her header to drift narrowly wide.

Despite the defeat, Chambers was eager to highlight the rapid improvement Royals are showing on the pitch.

“Being in the semi-final of the Conti Cup is somewhere we’ve never been at this club,” she explained. “If you look at how long we’ve been in FA Women’s Super League One, it’s a short space of time.

“We’re competing with top clubs now. We know we need to keep building the squad to make sure we are beating teams like Arsenal.

“I’m hoping the fans can see the direction we are going in, we are creating chances to go 3-1 up and 4-1 up. If we are netting them then no one will be talking about the goals we have leaked.”

Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro was delighted to seal their place in the Continental Cup final.

“I am very proud,” he said. “It was a great cup tie.

“I credit Reading, they are a very good team, they are very well organised and they put you under pressure. The game could have gone either way.”

Reading (4-3-3): Moloney, Rowe, Pearce, Potter, Scott, Bartrip (Linnett 75), Allen, Williams, Bruton, Chaplen, Furness. Subs not used: Earps, Fletcher, Green, Clifford. Booked: Moloney 79.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Van Veenendaal, Mitchell, Williamson, Rose (Quinn 74), Evans, Janssen, Nobbs, Van De Donk, Mead, Carter (O’Reilly 74), Meidama. Subs not used: Moorhouse, McCabe, James, Hinds, Fillbe. Booked: Rose 55.

Referee: Ryan Atkin.

Attendance: 749.