Arsenal captain Alex Scott was delighted her side put their defeat to Chelsea behind them as they reached the quarter finals of the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup with a 2-1 win against Reading.
Two well-worked goals gave the Gunners their fourth straight win in the competition and they can clinch top spot in Group A if they make it five out of five at Millwall Lionesses on Sunday.
England right back Scott said: "It's obviously good coming off the back of a league defeat for us to get that feel-good factor again and get through to the next round of the cup.
Arsenal Ladies 2-1 Reading
FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup
Thursday 27 August
Boreham Wood FC
"When you work on those things in training like we did for our first goal and when you put it into practice in the match it's really rewarding.
"It takes confidence to try that free kick and to finish it off with Casey Stoney scoring was great for the team.
"We knew coming into this game we couldn't take it lightly because they had only lost once in 11 games and we knew that Reading were going to be a threat."
Arsenal broke through on the stroke of half-time as a clever free kick routine involving Jordan Nobbs and Chioma Ubogagu led to Natalia putting a ball across that Stoney turned in at the far post.
Reading almost equalised early in the second half as Emma Follis played the ball across for Bianca Bragg, whose shot was blocked by Sari van Veenendaal.
Alex Scott tasted Continental Cup success back in 2013
And the Gunners doubled their lead in classy fashion as Carla Humphrey played in Vicky Losada, who cut inside before bending in a delightful finish.
Nicola Watts was to claim a consolation in stoppage time for the Royals when she rose at the back post to nod in an excellent cross by Rachel Rowe.
Reading winger Follis said: "Arsenal are obviously a very good team because their movement is unstoppable at times but we haven't disgraced ourselves.
"In the second half we could have pinched a couple more goals but we're proud of our performance.
"If we had have scored earlier in the second half then it could have changed the game but we love playing in occasions like this so hopefully we can get promoted and do it next year.
"Their first goal was training ground stuff - we didn't have a clue what was going on as they knocked the ball around us but it shows they're a top side."
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Arsenal (4-3-3): Sari van Veenendaal, Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Jemma Rose, Emma Mitchell, Carla Humphrey, Vicky Losada (Marta Corredera 76), Jade Bailey, Jordan Nobbs (Dominique Janssen 71), Natalia Pablos Sanchon (Dan Carter 83), Chioma Ubogagu
Subs not used: Emma Byrne, Vyan Sampson, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Georgia Allen
Reading (4-1-4-1): Grace Moloney, Rebecca Jane, Kirsty McGee, Kylie Davies, Nia Jones, Rachel Rowe, Emma Follis, Lois Roche (Charlie Estcourt 71), Laura May Walkley (Bianca Bragg 45), Helen Ward (Nicola Watts 71), Lauren Bruton
Subs not used: Harriett Scott, Georgie Giddings, Melissa Fletcher, Chloe Sansom
Bookings: Laura May Walkley
Referee: Lucy Oliver
Attendance: 873
