Caz Harkness had the first shot on goal within the first minute and for the first 5 minutes Thatcham could not get out of their own half. Kendall Gilmour was next into the action with 2 attempts on goal both dealt with by the keeper, the second a brave stop at Kendall’s feet. Newbury had been strengthened for this game by the return of the players from last season who are now at University. Lisa Duncan adding her considerable physical presence to the left side of the team was the next in action shooting past the left hand post and, with Kelly Stokes on the right coming back to full form after a year out with ligament damage, the midfield, with Leanne Creese and Caz Harkness, was dominating in front of the back four including Hannah Burgess also back from University.

Newbury had further attempts on goal but the shots were high or wide of the post. With a little more concentration Newbury should have won the game within the first 25 minutes. Thatcham then started to get into the game. They won their first corner after 23 minutes and were using their strength to gain some possession. Thatcham were unlucky when Karen Churchill got possession on the edge of the box in an unmarked position her shot hitting the left hand post, rolling along the goal line eventually to be put out for a corner. This was Thatcham’s only real chance in the game. For the rest of the half the game was evenly balanced.

The second half saw Newbury back on top. Lisa having the first shot which went over the bar. After 10 minutes Leanne was fouled outside the box and the resulting Kendall free kick was inches wide of the left hand post. Newbury by now was in complete control but still lacking the cutting edge. After 15 minutes they switched to three at the back bringing utility player Chelsea Starbuck from right back into an attacking midfield position just to the left of centre. This really increased the attacking options and finally Newbury got their reward when Kelly Stokes, justifiably awarded player of the match by the Thatcham team, cut in from the left to beat the keeper at make it 1-0. Captain Gemma Povey then put the ball through to Colleen Geis who played it on the Kendall whose shot over the keeper hit the bar. Minutes later Caz driving through from midfield won a couple of challenges and a rebound shooting low inside the left hand post to put the game beyond Thatcham’s reach . Kendall had another shot over the bar before wrapping the game up when the ball was put through past the static defence and Kendall’s deft touch, when one on one with the keeper, made the score 3-0.