Winchester City Flyers picked up their first away league win of the season winning 4-1 at Arbour Park against Reading in the Southern Region Premier Division.

Libby Wilkinson gave the Flyers a 2-0 lead at the break, scoring directly from a freekick.

The Royals hit back in the second half, but despite this, Wilkinson completed her hat-trick before Annie Northwood wrapped up the win.

Winchester headed to Slough to face the former Women's Super League outfit who had to drop four leagues in the summer due to off-field problems.

New signing Ella Hughes, dual signed from Oxford United, made the bench as manager Emma Pearmine reshuffled her squad, as Laura da Silva and Kayleigh Tonks were absent.

The selection also saw Shayne Prasad and Charlotte Warhurst return from their spells on the sidelines through injury.

Winchester started the brighter in the opening exchanges but lacked the quality in the final third, so goalkeeper Cherry Preisner remained unchallenged.

Mia Bradley got forward but before the winger could shoot Eloise Powell-Rowland recovered to block the shot.

Just moments after this the Flyers broke the deadlock in the 17th minute.

Vinnie Nkomo's cross was punched clear by Preisner but only as far as Wilkinson who, despite being under pressure, found the composure to fire home the opener.

The Royals attempted to hit back however, Lily Simmons' shot didn't provide enough to test Ellie Parker who comfortably claimed the effort.

Nkomo was next to shoot but was way off target before a delightful cross from Eaton wasn't picked up as no red shirts had made it into the box.

With nearly half-hour played Shayne Prasad came on for her first appearance since the end of September.

The Flyers were shortly awarded a freekick on the corner of the penalty area and Wilkinson stepped up to smash the ball in under the bar to double Winchester's lead.

Reading pushed for a way back in before half-time however, Bradley and Simmons couldn't get past Parker in the Flyers goal.

The Royals started the second-half similarly to how they ended the first.

Bradley was proving to be a thorn in Winchester's side as she flew down the right wing with every chance she had.

The winger then had a freekick headed over before a minute later Reading got their reward.

Winchester tried to move the ball around the back and saw Powelll-Rowland under-hit a back pass to Parker that Suzanna Gajzler raced onto for an easy finish to make it 2-1.

It was a goal that galvanised the Royals.

Bradley had a shot well saved by Parker before Wilkinson almost grabbed her hat-trick on the volley.

Just seconds later in the 65th minute, the attacker had her third.

Wilkinson intercepted a pass just outside the area and screamed at substitute Northwood to leave the ball which allowed her to fire home low and hard to restore Winchester's two goal cushion.

The win was wrapped up in the 76th minute with Northwood's 11th goal of the season.

Northwood controlled well with her first touch to set her up to chip Preisner, who had rushed off her line, for the fourth Flyers' goal.

Preisner was called into action in injury time were she denied Amy Smith one-on-one but it was a rare positive for the Royals who remain rooted to the bottom of the table and still searching for their first points of the season.

The final whistle came and Winchester moved up to 6th in the table above Sholing who lost to Woodley United while also extending the gap between them and the bottom three sides.

Full-time: Reading 1 Flyers 4