After the disappointment of last week’s abandonment, we returned to the USDaw Community Stadium to face a tough, physical Lawford side. There was just one change from the previous line-up, with Tailor making her first start of the season at left back, replacing Manning. Despite last week’s match being called off with us 3-0 up inside 35 minutes due to an injury to an opposing player, we looked to continue that momentum.
We started brightly, pressing Lawford with quick, attractive football. The midfield dominated early exchanges, combining beautifully with 1-2 passes that overwhelmed the opposition. Early chances fell to Ruby Hawksworth and Chelise Fleming, but it was only a matter of time before we broke through.
The breakthrough came from a well-placed Emily Schofield corner, which found Nicole Cooper, who powered home her first goal of the season with a commanding header. Just a minute later, new signing Holly Fox opened her account with a composed finish following a superb pass from Hawksworth. Ruby, who would go on to register a hat-trick of assists, made her case for a starting spot in next week’s FA Cup qualifier stronger.
Fox was on fire and doubled her tally in the 32nd minute, calmly slotting home in a one-on-one with the keeper. As halftime approached, Fleming added another with a stunning long-range strike, set up unselfishly by Fox. The shot had too much pace and power for the Lawford keeper, sealing a 4-0 lead by the break.
The second half started where we left off, with the midfield continuing to control the game. Lawford struggled to cope with the fluid, confident play, as we moved the ball effortlessly around the pitch. In the 57th minute, Fox completed her hat-trick, coolly rounding the keeper after a deflected ball found her in space. Despite Lawford’s increasingly physical approach, we stayed composed and in control.
In the final minutes, Fleming added her second of the match, finishing off a cross with a clever reverse shot that flew into the top corner. The 6-0 scoreline capped off an emphatic performance, much to the delight of our fans.
We now turn our attention to next week’s derby against local rivals St Margaretbury. We hope to see a strong turnout of travelling support as we look to continue our fine form.
