READING FC Women ended the FA Women’s Super League Spring Series with a 1-1 draw away to Sunderland on Saturday.

Kelly Chambers’ Royals failed to take their early chances at Hetton Centre after Kirsty McGee, Jade Moore and Kirsty Linnett all went close.

Black Cats also threatened through Dominique Bruinenberg, but it was Reading who broke the deadlock on the half hour when Melissa Fletcher collected Mandy van den Berg’s pass and slotted home.

Royals almost doubled their lead before the break when Linnett squandered a one-on-one chance.

It proved a costly miss as Beverley Leon came off the bench to grab a Sunderland equaliser in the second half.

Even then Reading had chances to snatch all three points, but Anissa Lahmari and Lauren Bruton failed to convert.

Royals went into the match on the back of a 1-0 defeat against unbeaten Arsenal Ladies at Barnet last week.

Beth Mead hit the post for the Gunners and Jordan Nobbs and Leah Williamson also went close.

But Royals did concede just before the break when Danielle Carter fired home.

Danielle Van de Donk and Jordan Nobbs almost added a second for the hosts, while Royals keeper Mary Earps pulled off a superb save to deny Fara Williams.

But Chambers’ side were inches away from a late equaliser when Bruton’s volley from the edge of the box bounced agonisingly wide.

Royals finished sixth out of nine clubs who entered the Spring Series, and Fletcher said: “We believe we deserved to be higher than that, just a couple of results haven’t gone our way.

“We’ve completely changed our formation and the squad and we’ve made great progression over the Spring Series. We’re happy looking at the big picture and we can only improve next season.”