READING FC Women claimed their third Women’s Super League 1 win in a row with a comeback victory against Everton Ladies.

Brooke Chaplen scored twice for the hosts at Adams Park to cancel out Hannah Cain’s opener.

And Royals boss Kelly Chambers admitted her side did it the hard way after missing a string of chances.

“The hardest thing for us is that we dominated the first half but went 1-0 down.

“We knew what we had to do to get back into the game. Looking back at it and the chances we had, we should have been three or four one up, but we went in level.

“We knew Everton were a good side and they were going to be physical.

"I don’t think we came out in the second half and delivered what we needed to, but it was important for us to get three points and we did that.

"Everton came out the blocks quickly and we expected that. I think we panicked under the pressure, we didn’t get control of the game. Even though we didn’t have the performance in the second half, we got the result."

Royals were first to threaten when Chaplen tested Everton keeper Kirstie Levell.

But Toffees went in front through Cain’s 12th minute strike as they searched for their first league win of the season.

However, Royals hit back strongly with Fara Williams hitting the crossbar before Chaplen levelled on 20 minutes by collected a Remi Allen pass and dinking the ball over Levell.

Everton almost got their noses back in front soon after the restart, but Inessa Kaagman was offside when he tucked the ball home after Garry George’s effort had rebounded off the post.

Royals keeper Grace Maloney also made a smart save to deny Chloe Kelly before Megan Finnigan made a last-ditch challenge at the other end to prevent Chaplen from netting.

Reading, though, regrouped at the break and took the lead in the 77th minute when Chaplen curled a delightful shot past Levell from a Gemma Davison assist.

Even then Reading rarely looked comfortable, but Everton’s late pressure failed to produce an equaliser as Chambers’ side held on.

The win leaves Reading fourth in the table ahead of this Sunday’s away fixture against fifth-placed Chelsea at Kingsmeadow (2pm ko).

Reading: Moloney, Pacheco, Pearce, Moore (Estcourt 86), Potter, Allen, Williams, Furness (Bartrip 71), Davison, Harding, Chaplen. Subs not used: Jane, Laws, Woodham.

Everton: Levell, Boye-Hlorkah, Brougham, Finnigan, George, Kelly, Bruinenberg, James, Kaagman (Hughes 85), Magill, Cain (Walker 65). Subs not used: Flaherty, Hinds, Shringer, Bryson, Mitchell. Booked: Cain 46, Kaagman 53.

Referee: Amy Fearn.

Attendance: 625.