Aylesbury Ladies started their pre-season preparation with a very promising display at Southern League Reading Ladies on Sunday.

The Berkshire side are three divisions higher than the Ducks but that difference never showed as Aylesbury took the game to their opponents from the first whistle.

Inside the first minute new signings Sue Wynes and Steph Dean both had efforts saved and two minutes later another recent recruit Suzie Cole burst through and shot just wide.

Reading weathered the early storm and created a couple of half chances of their own before taking the lead on twenty minutes.

The scores were level two minutes later though as United, showing great resolve, hit straight back. Sue Wynes drew two defenders and crossed low for the unmarked Dean to crash the ball into an empty net.

A minute later the same combination had the ball in the net once again only for the linesman to flag for a dubious looking offside.

The second thirty minute period of the match began a little disjointedly as United introduced a number of substitutes.

Suzie Cole had a long range free kick saved before her sister Sarah shot just wide following good work from Wynes.

Stubborn defending from Beth Harris and Lucy Ilic kept the home side at bay and with Sue Wynes and Suzie Cole both creating themselves half chances the Ducks finished the second segment strongly.

The final third was again affected by changes but Aylesbury continued to create, the best chance falling to Trina Freeman, with the debutante shooting just wide on her first appearance for the club.

Reading scored the winner against the run of play with ten minutes remaining as a deflected lob left keeper Harriet Parkin stranded, but the Ducks will take many more positives from this game as they look to mount a challenge this season.