by Alex Hoad

Canterbury Ladies skipper Susannah Townsend says her side remain focused on topping the Investec National Premier Division table, despite losing their unbeaten record.

The previously unbeaten city club missed the chance to open a four-point gap over second-placed Leicester after they slipped to a 2-0 defeat against third-placed Reading at Polo Farm on Saturday.

Canterbury now face a testing trip to Bristol side Clifton on Saturday morning but victory, coupled with a surprise defeat for fifth-placed Bowdon, would mean the city club are guaranteed a top-four finish and a spot in the Championship play-offs with three games to spare.

However, Townsend (pictured) said: "Our aim is still to finish top. If we can guarantee top-four then great but our ultimate goal is still to win the league and if we can’t be top, then the least we’re thinking about is home advantage in the play-offs."

Reading host Leicester – who sit a point behind Canterbury with a game in hand – on Sunday and Townsend added: "We’d prefer Reading to win as it means we have a better chance of finishing top.

"However, it’s all about what we do. We lost at Clifton last year and our games down there are always close."