Reading FC Women made it three wins and three clean sheets from as many Super League games as Rachel Furness grabbed the decisive goal in their 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Madejski Stadium.

The Royals midfielder popped up with the only goal of the game early in the second half as her side hauled themselves up to fifth in the Super League table.

Reading came very close to opening the scoring early on with a well-worked free-kick. Fara Williams chipped a pass into Remi Allen, who poked just wide.

At the other end, Chloe Peplow’s deep cross from the right found Aileen Whelan, but the winger couldn’t find the target with her header.

The visitors were fortunate not to concede just before the 20-minute mark, having failed to clear a corner.

The loose ball fell to Millie Farrow, whose low cross deflected off a Brighton defender, leading to a brilliant reaction save from Marie Hourihan, the Brighton keeper tipping onto her crossbar.

Farrow missed a great chance to break the deadlock before the break, having been played through one-on-one with Hourihan by Lauren Bruton but the Royals striker failed to hit the target as Hourihan closed down her angles.

Furness then bagged what would prove to be the winner with a well-struck shot to Hourihan’s left after the ball broke to her on the edge of the area.

Brighton were not creating too much in the way of chances, but almost drew level out of the blue when Kirsty Barton’s shot from distance cannoned back off the crossbar.

The visitors were inches away from equalising in stoppage time when Barton’s superb cross just needed a touch off a Brighton head at the far post.

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