The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Women’s squad were defeated by Reading in the National Football Youth League South Premier Women on Wednesday afternoon.
Reading opened the scoring early on when a bouncing ball was poked past Iona Smith.
The visitors controlled the first half and almost doubled their lead as a defender arrived at the far post to head a deep corner wide.
The Cobblers came closest to getting on the scoresheet in the opening 45 minutes when Mia Richards drove a long-range free-kick narrowly over.
Reading scored their second goal midway through the first half. Cobblers captain Ruby Heselden had blocked the initial shot, but the follow-up was fired into the roof of the net.
The visitors extended their advantage when a free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box and a first-time, side-footed effort found the back of the net.
They added a fourth shortly before half-time as a midfielder shifted the ball out of her feet and rifled in a long-range strike.
The second period was more even with the Cobblers sending two opportunities into the side-netting before the hour mark. Kitty Crouch nodded Richards’ looping corner wide at the far post and Cassidy Flynn smashed Keeley Jackson’s low ball across the face of goal past the back stick.
At the other end, an attacker lofted an effort towards goal from the edge of the area and hit the top of the bar.
A teammate stretched to turn a low cross home and make it five a few minutes later.
The Cobblers came inches from scoring a late consolation when substitute Lauren Hewitt found Crouch in the box, and her outside-of-the-foot shot was finger-tipped wide by the ‘keeper.
Cobblers: Iona Smith, Maddie Carter, Ruby Heselden, Laila Channell, Cassidy Flynn, Afrika de Villiers, Georgia Gale, Mia Richards, Kitty Crouch, Keeley Jackson, Ellie Barker
Substitutes: Phoebe Preston, Lauren Hewitt, Ruby Oxley, Sophia Tennent, Mia Paradise
