SWINDON Town Ladies picked up three valuable points when they entertained Reading in a South West Combination League fixture and won 1-0.

The visitors came close to taking an early lead when Vikki Smith crossed from the left but Denise Daniel's shot was just too high.

The Reading forwards were getting little joy against the Town defence with Clare Wheeler and Michelle Brown keeping a tight control.

In the 34th minute Louise Corcoran dropped the ball over the Reading defence for Lucy Bailey to run clear, but she was foiled by the visitors' keeper, who made two excellent point blank saves.

The second was pushed out for a corner and from the resulting kick Wheeler headed in Michelle Rich's cross.

The Town pressed to increase their lead and Corcoran was fouled 35 yards out. Rich took the free kick but with the keeper beaten the ball dropped just over the Reading cross bar.

At the other end a snap shot flew just past the post. A swift passing move involving Fiona Baldwin, Bailey and Kim Reeves cut through the Reading defence for Corcoran to get in a shot that was just wide of the far post.

The Town started the second half well and Baldwin played the ball forward to Nikki Watts whose shot was well held by the Reading keeper.

Rich tried her luck with a long lob that dropped over the Reading cross bar. Reeves split the Reading defence to find Corcoran, whose rising shot was held by the keeper.

Reading came close to getting the equaliser when Serena Hickman ran clear but her final shot was wide of the target.

Wheeler came close to becoming the provider when her pass found Watts in a good position but the Town youngster's shot was just wide of the goal.

Rich's neat interchange with Julie Selway resulted in the Reading keeper pushing out the final shot to Watts, who followed up but hit the ball just wide of the goal.

These were three important points for the Town that enabled them to pull away from the relegation dog fight.

Wyvern Staff Agency Player of the match: Clare Wheeler.

Swindon Spitfires faced a strong Frome team in the semi-final of the Bristol Soccerworld Cup but refused to go down quietly.

They produced one of their most encouraging performances so far this season in a display that in no way did justice to the final 2-6 scoreline.

The highlight of the first half for the Spitfires was a superb goal by 15-year-old Vicky Taylor on 10 minutes. Despite being in her first season in senior football, the youngster managed to turn her more experienced opponent, and crashed the ball high into the net.

The second half saw Leanne Clarke in the Spitfires goal make several excellent saves and both Bev Maull and Mel Bristow came close to pulling the Swindon team back into the game.

An 80th minute strike by Julia Caton proved just too late to rally her side and the Spitfires must now look to build on their impressive effort and commitment for the last remaining league games.

Spitfires' player of the match was Natalie Ferris

Team: Leanne Clarke, Mandy Pearson, Bev Maull, Rachel Eley, Lorna Davies, Louise Slattery, Jody Nicholls, Gemma Ferris, Natalie Ferris, Mel Bristow, Vicky Taylor, Julia Caton, Michelle Maull.

The under 12s travelled to Keynsham in the semi-final of the Wiltshire County League Cup and made their opponents fight all the way.

Emma Skinner opened the scoring on five minutes for the Spitfires, but despite some excellent saves from keeper Helen Browne, were unable to prevent Keynsham ending the half with a slender lead.

The Swindon youngsters eventually succumbed to three quick goals. Good work from Emma Skinner put through Lucy Woodward for a consolation goal.