She's one of the most experienced and decorated players in the English game, but even by Fara Williams’ standards, her impact at Reading has been quite special.

Reading’s Williams, England’s most capped player ever with 166 appearances, has bagged five goals in seven matches from midfield this season, including an audacious piledriver from the kick-off in a recent Cup win against former club Arsenal.

The 33-year-old midfielder swapped the red of the Gunners for the blue and white of the Berkshire outfit in the summer, and is showing her class on a weekly basis.

Her arrival has not gone unnoticed – team-mate Harriet Scott even admitted that Williams’ sensational long-range hit had her scrambling for the rule book.

“I looked round and thought ‘can that count? Are we allowed to do that?” said the Republic of Ireland international. “I’ve never seen that happened in women’s football, although I think she may have done it before! We were all dumbstruck and we were celebrating, going absolutely mental.

“Fara is very well established and luckily enough she’s not an Arsenal player any more, she’s a Reading player now and she’s settled in straight away.

“She’s got off the mark and has a new lease of life. That’s the kind of player that Fara is, she’s got so much quality about her.”

Scott and Reading team-mate Mary Earps, who made her England debut earlier this year against Switzerland in June, drew the teams for the SSE Women’s FA Cup second round at the company’s headquarters in Reading on Monday.

Teams from the FA Women’s Premier League divisions and below will contest the ties on December 3, with Reading not set to enter until later in the competition.

The in-form Royals have beaten both Arsenal and Liverpool already this season, as well as becoming the only side to take any point off all-conquering Chelsea after battling to a 2-2 draw in the FA WSL 1 encounter on Sunday.

And goalkeeper Earps admitted Williams’ ability, quality and above all, attitude, has breathed new life into a Reading squad which is oozing confidence at the moment.

“Fara has found her form at a good time, because now I don’t have to play against her!” said Earps.

“It’s fantastic – I’ve known her for a few years and I’m so glad she came – it’s been a great move for her, you can see she’s happy and she’s enjoying the game, she’s still learning even though she’s so experienced.

“If you know Fara you know she wants to be challenged, she wants to ask questions and wants people around her who aren’t just going to tell her what she wants to hear.

“She’s more than happy to talk things out and get to the nitty-gritty detail of things.

“She’s now in an environment where that’s encouraged and listened to, she can bounce off the coaches and go into that extra detail.

“I think that’s why you’re seeing her in such great form, and long may it continue because it’s great for Reading.”

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.