Winchester City Flyers climbed to third in the Southern Region Premier Division after a hard-fought 3–1 victory over Reading at the Charters Community Stadium.
On a cold afternoon, Winchester struck first on the half-hour mark when full-back Laura Vokes curled a superb free-kick from 25 yards over the wall and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jess Webb. The goal came after a frantic opening period in which Reading had pressed high and created the better chances. Lucy Bolitho fired over early on, and the visitors later struck the post from a deep free-kick before Natalie Cowell saw a headed finish ruled out for offside.
Winchester gradually settled, with Laura da Silva testing Webb and Vokes having a penalty appeal waved away. At the other end, Ellie Parker was kept busy as she parried a dangerous effort before Tonks cleared the loose ball.
After the break, the match retained its intensity as Reading chased an equaliser. Charlie Snelling headed wide and Parker reacted sharply to smother another threatening delivery. Clear-cut chances were scarce, but Winchester’s substitutes shifted the momentum in the final stages.
Annie Northwood, introduced from the bench, almost doubled the lead when she broke wide and hit the side netting. Moments later, Winchester finally added a second. Vokes launched a long ball out of defence to Northwood, who controlled well and slid the ball through to Kayleigh Tonks. With acres of space, Tonks drove into the box and calmly slotted home her first goal of the season in the 87th minute.
Reading responded immediately. Parker collided with Cowell inside the six-yard box, and the striker converted the resulting penalty to set up a tense finish. Buoyed by the goal, Reading pushed forward again, only for Parker to stand tall and block another Cowell effort before Vokes cleared the danger.
Deep into stoppage time, Winchester sealed the points. A looping cross from Emma Whitlock bounced awkwardly, deceiving Webb, and Northwood reacted quickest to poke the ball home with the final kick of the match.
The crucial win, combined with results elsewhere, lifts Winchester to third—two points behind Southampton Women and three off leaders Wycombe Wanderers. The Flyers are home again next weekend as they switch focus to the Southern Region League Cup, where they will host Farnborough in the third round.