Last week it was Chelsea who came away from Sussex with a narrow victory, after the Seagulls had competed so well, and Hope Powell’s side were again on the losing side against the Royals, in a game that was much closer than the scoreline suggests.
A first-half brace from Wales international Jess Fishlock proved to be the difference for the visitors and although Inessa Kaagman also netted from the spot in a thrilling first half, sub Rachel Rowe made the game safe in injury time.
Albion made just one change to the team that lost to the Blues, with Dani Bowman coming back into the midfield and Nora Heroum dropping to the bench.
In a game that started at a high intensity, Angharad James dispossessed Bowman with just three minutes on the clock, but her long-range effort failed to trouble Cecilie Fiskerstrand – while Albion showed their intent at the other end with successive corners.
Fara Williams then had Albion hearts in mouths with a dangerous free kick which eluded her onrushing team-mates as Kelly Chambers’ side started to up the tempo.
Their pressure paid dividends in the 17th minute when Fishlock intercepted a loose Fliss Gibbons pass inside, and having honed in on goal, the Wales international drilled a low effort past Fiskerstrand from the edge of the box.
Albion stood firm and were back on level terms just five minutes later when ex-Seagull Deanna Cooper lunged at Ellie Brazil inside the box. Referee Abigail Byrne pointed to the spot and Kaagman made no mistake with the spot kick.
With their tails up, Maya Le Tissier also went close with a 20-yard drive while Kaagman volleyed over at the far post.
A neat, passing move on the edge of the Reading box resulted in Bowman trying her luck with a curling effort, but it failed to trouble keeper Grace Moloney.
When the visitors did break, Albion’s rearguard stood firm, but they could do nothing to stop Fishlock netting her second from close range, having picked up a Lily Woodham cross which Victoria Williams could only half clear with her head.
The goal couldn’t have come at a worse time, just two minutes before the half time, but the Seagulls responded immediately after the break with Gibbons seeing a fierce effort beaten out by Moloney.
Albion continued to search for the equaliser but it was hat-trick chasing Fishlock who came close to finding the target when she shot narrowly wide on the hour mark.
The game became a more scrappy affair but Gibbons again went close in the 74th minute when she met a short pass from Lee Geum-min, only to curl her effort wide.
Lee looked the player most likely to produce an opening in the latter stages, but Reading cemented their first win in seven WSL games when Rowe’s effort came back off a post and rolled across the along the line, with the assistant referee flagging for a goal.
Albion: Fiskerstrand, Gibbons, Bowman, Le Tissier, Whelan, Lee, Kaagman (Simpkins 86), O’Sullivan, Stott (Kerkdijk 76), Brazil, Williams.
Subs not used: Walsh, Connolly, Heroum, Green, Barton, Jarrett, Bance.