The deadlock was finally broken in the 26th minute when Walker played in Kovacsova, who found a composed finish to give Newbury a deserved one nil lead. Still Newbury attacked and they nearly had a second goal when midfield dynamo, Maria Rodrigues, sent in a long looping shot that came down but sadly crashed onto the top of the cross bar. With Wargrave’s players slightly reeling, Newbury did have a second within the next minute and it was Rodrigues who got herself onto the scoresheet, after she was well found through a clever Gilmour pass. From the re-start, Newbury switched off and they were made to pay when the home side capitalised by immediately clawing one goal back. 2-1 now with 39 minutes of the first half played. Newbury’s players were grateful therefore to get to half time, with their slender one goal advantage still in place.

It was not to last long unfortunately, with Wargrave scoring an equaliser from a good free kick in the 67th minute. 2-2 now and it was all to play for. The momentum was swinging back and forth and the match was on a real knife edge. These two excellent teams could not be separated until there was only eleven minutes remaining on the clock. Then came the decisive moment. Newbury’s Gilmour flicking on a long ball with her head and Walker being quickest to latch onto it. She showed ice calm nerves to clip the ball over the Wargrave goalkeeper for Newbury’s third goal of the afternoon.

With time now running out, Newbury’s defence stood firm and every Newbury player saw the game out extremely well. Walker’s goal proved to be the winner and it was the difference between the two sides. Claiming all three points and their second league win of the season, Newbury Development were delighted with their afternoon’s work. The victory sees them move up to third In the Division Two South table and sets them up nicely for their match up this coming Sunday with local rivals, Kingsclere.

Match report by Sue Hewett