Tottenham Hotspur Women's visit to Adams Park provided a solid barometer of where the team is at under coaches Karen Hills and Juan Amoros as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Reading.

Having competed well for large parts of the game, Spurs could not withstand an onslaught from the Royals, conceding three late goals after a stunning opener from Siri Worm.

It was Reading who were fastest out of the blocks on a pitch showing the effect of Wycombe Wanderers' game the day before, finding gaps in Spurs’ midfield and applying pressure to their back four in the early stages.

If not for Rebecca Spencer, who made a superb double save, Tottenham would have conceded in the opening minutes.

However, Spurs survived and began to pose their own threat, with the pace of Kit Graham and Worm causing problems for the Reading defence.

It was the latter who broke the deadlock on 55 minutes with a moment of quick thinking.

As the Reading players were setting up to defend a corner, Worm arrived from nowhere at the edge of the penalty box. Graham, operating on the same wavelength, found her teammate with a quick pass. Worm then controlled the ball and curled it into the top corner to provide a moment to savour for the visiting supporters.

But from then on Reading turned up the pressure, hunting the Tottenham goal from all angles. Spurs captain Josie Green ran tirelessly in the middle of the park, plugging gaps and making crunching challenges. But even the effervescent skipper was being worn down by the endless pressure, as were the rest of the Spurs players, who quickly became fatigued and disorganised.

After 77 minutes the pressure finally told as a corner was floated in from the right-hand side and Spencer, surrounded by players, came to collect, but the goalkeeper fumbled the ball into the path of Josanne Potter, who tapped in the equaliser at the back post.

It marred an otherwise faultless performance from Spencer, who was forced off through injury soon after.

Spencer’s replacement, Chloe Morgan, was soon under pressure as the Royals upped the ante.

After 88 minutes the home side pumped a long ball into the box which was flicked on and Remi Allen darted in front of Morgan to poke the ball home.

Drained of energy, Tottenham tried to find a way back into the game and they earned a free-kick near the halfway line with seconds to go.

Gemma Dawson tried to send the ball into the area but scuffed it to a Reading player, who then fed Arnalie Eikeland. She bore down on goal and sotted past Morgan to make it 3-1 in a defeat which confirmed Spurs do not yet belong among the Women's Super League frontrunners.

Tottenham Hotspur: Spencer (Morgan 83), Godfrey, Neville, Percival, Green, Filbey, Davison, Peplow (Addison 90), Dean, Worm (Quinn 90), Graham. Subs not used: Leon, Schillaci, Wynne, Ayane.