They've been the league’s surprise package so far, but Reading’s ascent from FA WSL mid-table to high-end challengers is far from a shock to the players.

Eye-catching wins against Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as being more than a match for all-conquering Chelsea, have seen the Royals establish themselves in the FA WSL season.

For defender Harriet Scott, Reading now need to keep up the momentum generated by their early-season promise.

And the 24-year-old insisted continuity was the key to the Berkshire outfit kicking on this season and outclassing some of the best in the business.

“Some of the results have seen us establish ourselves as a WSL 1 team,” said the Republic of Ireland international, who penned a new deal with the Royals earlier this year.

“We need to make sure we’re going to stay there and stay competing with the sides at top end of the table – that’s what we want to do.

“The camp is great at the moment – everyone is bouncing off each other. We’ve had a lot of new people in, but they’re feeling like they’ve been there for months and years already. It’s a brilliant atmosphere at the moment.

“We’re one of the few teams in the country who have a set core of players who have been there for a long time, but I also think on top of that we’re adding new personnel year on year.”

Scott, along with Reading goalkeeper Mary Earps, drew the sides for this year’s SSE Women’s FA Cup second round at the company’s headquarters on Forbury Place.

Teams from the FA Women’s Premier League divisions and below will contest the ties on December 3.

And while Kelly Chambers’ side do not enter the competition until the fourth round, Earps, who made her England debut earlier this year, insists her side have no secrets as to their upturn in fortunes.

“What’s been consistent over the last year and a half is our work rate – everybody is really committed and dedicated,” said the 24-year-old, who joined Reading from Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2016.

“Since I’ve been there, the ambition of the club has been clear and that’s something I wanted to be around and why I signed an extension [in January] – it’s such an exciting time for the club.

“The club has invested well and brought in players year on year which the club can help achieve their goals.

“Things are clicking for us at the moment – it’s good and I think we need to keep going, as soon as we lose it can easily turn into two and three.

“There’s no secrets, just a lot of hard work, dedication, commitment and belief in what the club have set up and in the way the staff wants to play.”

Tickets are now on sale for the SSE Women’s FA Cup Final on Saturday 5th May at Wembley Stadium connected by EE. For more information about tickets and what SSE do for women’s football, visit www.sponsorship.sse.com.