A second-half header by substitute Nicoline Sørensen cancelled out Rachel Rowe’s opener to give Willie Kirk’s Everton a point on a cold afternoon at the Madejski stadium.
Sorensen – who replaced Claire Emslie on 71 minutes – headed home at the back post from an Ingrid Moe Wold cross with 13 minutes remaining.
Reading had the better of the opening half with manager Kirk’s side struggling to gain a foothold in the match.
The home team hit the post just after the 25-minute mark. A free-kick from the left saw Amalie Eikeland sneak in at the far post, her shot was saved onto the post and the rebound headed to safety by Everton defender Megan Finnigan.
The Toffees registered their first shot just after the half-hour. A Rikke Sevecke cross from the left was glanced wide of the post by Valérie Gauvin.
From the resulting goal-kick, Everton almost scored the opener. Jill Scott won the ball on the edge of Reading’s penalty area; she played a pass to Izzy Christiansen who dragged her shot just wide of the left post.
Despite the good spell, Everton fell behind 11 minutes before the break.
A cross from the left was punched by Tinja-Riikka Korpela onto the head of Reading striker Danielle Carter and the ball ricocheted into the path of Rowe to tap into an empty net.
The Toffees had their first shot on target on the stroke of half-time, Christiansen’s 25-yard strike forcing Grace Moloney into a comfortable save.
Midway through the second half, a high press from Everton saw them win the ball high in Reading territory. First, Christiansen’s shot was blocked and a subsequent strike from Abbey-Leigh Stringer didn’t find a way through, as Reading held firm.
Everton continued to pressure the Reading defence and got their reward 13 minutes from time.
A fantastic move down the right saw full-back Moe Wold stand the ball up to the back post for Sørensen to head home from five yards out.
The away team pushed for the winner but Hayley Raso could only manage to force goalkeeper Moloney into a comfortable save late on.
Reading almost snatched a decisive goal in the last minute. Deanna Cooper’s flick from a free-kick hit the side netting with keeper Korpela beaten.
Everton who remain fifth in the Women’s Super League, ahead of Reading in sixth on goal difference, face Tottenham Hotspur in a fortnight.
