Lauren Hemp completed the scoring after Ellen White's effort was parried into her path by Grace Moloney.

The win lifts City, who still have a game in hand on third-placed Manchester United, above Tottenham into fourth.

United conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 at West Ham on Wednesday evening.

The visitors' goal was a mark of good fortune in a one-sided first half in which Julie Blakstad, Hayley Raso and Khadija Shaw were all denied by Reading goalkeeper Moloney.

Alex Greenwood headed wide from a promising position, while Caroline Weir also missed the target with a side-footed effort from the edge of the area.

The hosts appeared to be running out of ideas in the second half until Stokes broke Reading's resistance with a smart finish, before Hemp sealed the points with six minutes remaining.

Gareth Taylor's side have now won 12 of their last 14 matches in all competitions, including each of their last five since losing to Chelsea at the beginning of February.

The defeat stretches Reading's winless WSL run to five games.