Newbury Ladies Football
Match Report -- Season 2018-19
Southern Region Women's Football League Premier Division
Sunday 9 December 2018
Newbury Ladies 1st 0 AFC Bournemouth Ladies 3
AFC Bournemouth Ladies were the visitors in the league for Newbury Ladies FC and it was the South Coast side who kicked off the encounter. It was expected that AFC Bournemouth would have plenty of possession and so it proved, but the home side were well organised and compact, making life difficult for their opponents.

Whilst Bournemouth were creating chances, they were wasteful with their shooting, often sending their shots high and wide, and Newbury’s keeper, Kat Brown, was rarely troubled in the opening stages. It did take Newbury until the 17th minute, before they were able to venture into the Bournemouth half, when they broke quickly following a Bournemouth corner. In a good move involving Ayala Truelove and Ellie Reed, Reed was able to cut in and shoot from distance, but the ball went wide. This signalled a more even passage of play, with Newbury coming more into the contest and the match was finely balanced.

Just inside the half hour mark, Brown was called upon to make a strong save in the Newbury goal, keeping the game goal-less. In the reverse fixture last month, Newbury were already three goals down by this stage, so they were showing a huge improvement in their performance. Captain Reed, then did well to win a corner off a Bournemouth defender, and she rushed to take the set piece. Her cross found Truelove’s head at the near post, but she could only direct her header just the wrong side of the upright. That had been a good chance for Newbury.

Another opportunity came soon after, when a Reed diagonal played in the deep-running Shelley Forster. She was clean through on goal, but was thwarted by the on-rushing keeper, who was just able to beat Forster to the ball and clear to safety. Newbury appeared to have Bournemouth worried as half time approached. But then there was heartbreak for Newbury. A strong run down the Newbury left, resulted in a cross into the box, that whizzed across the 6 yard line. With the Bournemouth winger racing in at the back post, Brown faced her down, making a terrific blocked save. But cruelly for Newbury, the ball then ricocheted back off their sliding defender, Leanne Saunders and the ball evaded Brown and nestled inside the net to give Bournemouth a one nil lead in the 39th minute.

Newbury’s players had been hoping to get to half time at nil, nil, but now they found themselves a goal behind at the break. There were still plenty of positives however, and it was all still to play for, as Newbury kicked off the second half.

This was an enthralling contest, that could still go either way. The next goal would be crucial – it would either give Bournemouth a two goal cushion, or allow Newbury to equalise. Just ten minutes in and Newbury were forced into a slight re-shuffle, when debutant, Abbie Adwas, came on in midfield for the injured Forster. The home side were still defending well, with Jo Walsh-Perks particularly impressive. Newbury’s goalkeeper, Brown, was required to make an excellent diving save on 71 minutes. She then gathered well from a Bournemouth corner.

Newbury were still in the match and fighting hard. With Manager, Sue Hewett, considering further substitutions and tactical changes to go in search of the equaliser, the second half deadlock was broken in the 80th minute. Bournemouth’s live wire striker, wriggled free to latch onto a through ball and pushing Sam Atkins aside, she coolly slotted home to give the visitors the two nil lead they craved. Some spectators thought the push on Atkins should have been blown up for a foul, but the Referee was not in agreement and the goal stood.

Just four minutes later and Bournemouth had rattled the Newbury cross bar with a long range effort, but Lorna Kinder-Parr was quick to react and clear the rebound for Newbury. Then in the 89th minute, Kinder-Parr was on the wrong side of a referring decision, when she was penalised for a harsh hand ball just inside the area. A penalty was awarded and the Bournemouth number eight stepped up to dispatch the spot kick with ease. This gave Bournemouth a three nil score-line and it was enough to give them all three points and keep their unbeaten run going. The three nil result was not really a fair reflection on the game, with the AFC Bournemouth Manager commenting on how tough Newbury’s players had made it for his side.

In a well-organised and disciplined performance, the Player of the Match for Newbury Ladies FC was the dynamic Jo Walsh-Perks.

Match report by Sue Hewett

Players: Kat Brown, Sam Atkins, Leanne Saunders, Lorna Kinder-Parr, Becky Anderson, Jo Walsh-Perks, Caz Harkness, Shelley Forster, Ayala Truelove, Amy McNab, Ellie Reed (Capt), Sam Richards, Abbie Adwas.
Referee: Mark Bullock
Goal scorers
Player of the match
Jo Walsh-Perks
Next fixture

Southern Region Premier

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