Kayleigh Green scored twice as Albion returned to winning ways in the WSL with an emphatic 4-1 win over Reading at the People’s Pension Stadium.
Albion had never beaten the Royals before but they were in control after Green headed them ahead midway through the first half.
Green got her second early in the second period and rampant Albion added further goals through Aileen Whelan and Emma Koivisto.
It was arguably their best performance of the season bearing in mind Reading came into the game looking for a sixth successive League win. Albion also hit the woodwork through Whelan and Victoria Williams had a goal disallowed in a sparkling performance.
Green had replaced Danielle Carter up front for Albion, who were on the front foot from the first whistle.
They pressed Reading all over the pitch, won most of the 50-50s and caused several alarms in the visitors’ defence, both from open play and set pieces.
The goal they deserved came in the 21st minute when Megan Connolly’s left-wing corner was headed home from close range by Green, her second goal of the season.
Albion could and probably should have stretched their lead before the break. From another corner, this time by Inessa Kaagman, Connolly’s shot appeared to hit team-mate Maya Le Tissier on the line.
Williams had a header disallowed for a foul and Reading keeper Grace Moloney produced an acrobatic tip-over when Koivisto met Connolly’s cross with a firm header.
Albion went close again three minutes after the break when Whelan’s cross-shot from the right beat Moloney but came back off the crossbar, but on 51 minutes Green struck again.
Ellie Brazil did really well, outpacing Faye Bryson down the left before sliding a pass into Green’s path and as Moloney came out the Wales international slipped the ball past her and into the far corner.
Albion were in control and added a third just past the hour. Once again Reading didn’t deal with a corner, this time from Kaagman, and it dropped to Whelan six yards out and she guided the ball into the far corner.
Koivisto then got in on the act when Albion made it 4-0 in the 68th minute. Again the hosts built an attack down the left and when Brazil’s cross came in the ball found its way to the defender via Green and Whelan and Koivisto turned and fired low into the bottom corner.
Amalie Eikeland got a late consolation for Reading when her cross-shot from the right drifted into the far corner but it couldn’t take the gloss off an excellent afternoon for Albion.
Albion: Walsh, Le Tissier, Williams, Kerkdijk, Kullberg, Koivisto (Symonds 88), Whelan, Connolly, Brazil, Kaagman (Carter 88), Green (Lee 75).
Subs: Gibbons, Bowman, Bance, Simpkins, Zigiotti, Startup.
Attendance: 1159