FA Women’s National League Division One (South-East)
Team: Melling, Hennessy, Searle, Blodgett, Lewin, Owen, Harris, Hill, Cohen, Stanley, McCrea
On an overcast Sunday afternoon at the Powerday Stadium it was good to see Swedish ‘R’, Nicklas Molin join the regulars.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 15th minute after the Ashford No.9 had squared the ball in low from the left. It then came off the No.20 before entering the net.
At the other end, Grace Stanley’s strike was tipped over the crossbar.
The first change was made on 23 minutes, after Zoe Cohen had appeared to twist her knee. Eventually Emilia Nygaard-Parsons was brought on to replace her.
The Ashford No.9 bombed down the left-flank, before squaring the ball into the box. The subsequent shot was blocked, and the ball then went behind for a corner.
Ashford doubled their lead around the half-hour mark after Rangers had lost possession in their own half. The No.16 then took the ball upfield before slotting it home.
As the R’s looked to pull a goal back, Ellie Searle turned her marker in the box before shooting wide of the upright.
Then, following a great through ball to Grace Stanley, the R’s striker’s shot forced a superb diving save from the keeper.
A clash of heads involving Jess Harris and an opponent resulted in both players requiring treatment. After a long delay the referee blew the half-time whistle.
With the sun beginning to poke through, Alice Curr and Ailish Carolan were introduced for the start of the second-half.
The R’s pulled a goal back shortly after the interval. A superb through ball was collected by Grace Stanley, who then went wide of the keeper before stroking it in.
However, just a few minutes later, Ashford added a third goal. The first attempt hit the crossbar and the follow up was belted into the back of the net.
And soon after that, the home side went further behind. The Ashford No.9 ran onto a long ball before finishing.
On 63 minutes, Steve Quashie brought on Courtnay Ward-Chambers at the expense of Izzy Owen.
QPR got a second goal following a great run down the left-flank. Ellie Searle beat a defender before providing an excellent ball into the box, where Courtnay Ward-Chambers was on hand to poke it home.
Then, an excellent move down the left involving Ellie Searle and Emilia Nygaard-Parsons, resulted in the ball being crossed into the box, where it was played back to Jo Blodgett, who then smashed it goalwards, and a flying save from the keeper managed to keep it out.
A deserved third goal for the R’s came around the 80th minute, when Grace Stanley turned in the area, before lining it up and picking her spot.
Five minutes or so later, Nicole Melling did well to dive down and grab the ball at the feet of an opponent.
Ellie Searle put a low cross into the box, but Grace Stanley couldn’t quite connect with the ball, and it continued on its way.
With the referee looking at his watch, Grace Stanley belted the ball on the half-volley into the top corner. The final whistle soon followed!
Steve Russell
