From the kick off Newbury’s midfield of Lorna Parr and Nicole Beesley imposed themselves, winning possession and releasing Leanne Creese down the wing for an early attack. Beesley was to have a terrific game, with much of Newbury’s good play going through her. Although Tower Hill forced a couple of corners, it was Newbury that had the early shooting chances, with one effort mis-hit and the other just inches wide.

Tower Hill’s goalkeeper was having a fine game, playing almost as a ‘keeper-sweeper’ and clearing any danger from the many Newbury through balls that were finding their way past the visiting defence. Ellie Reed and Creese for Newbury were thwarted on more than one occasion. Then just prior to half time, Newbury were forced into a substitution, bringing on Rachel Panting for Emma O’Leary, who was unable to continue due to illness. When the half time whistle blew moments later, the score line was still goal-less.

Newbury kept the same shape for the second half, with Panting looking to link the play and bring more fluidity to Newbury’s attack. This appeared to be working in the early stages, but then Tower Hill had a breakaway, gaining a corner. As Newbury looked to clear from their goal mouth, defender Sam Atkins was harshly judged to have handled the ball, with the Referee awarding a penalty to Tower Hill. It looked more ball-to-hand, with no arm movement at all from the defender, but the decision was not to be reversed. The penalty kick was dispatched in clinical fashion for the visitors and they took a one nil lead early in the half.

The one consolation for the home side is that they still had plenty of time to turn things around and to try to find a way back into the match. Creese and Panting combined well down Newbury’s right, with the latter having a shot deflected behind by a Tower defender. As the resulting corner came in, it just evaded the jump of Lauren Sheldon at the back post.

Tower Hill were buoyed by their one nil lead however and they still posed a threat on the break for Newbury, who had to rely on goalkeeper Chloe Hunt making a couple of last ditch saves. On 61 minutes Newbury reshuffled their back line, moving Atkins into the centre of defence and bringing on Leanne Saunders at full back.

Within 5 minutes Newbury had their equaliser. Sam McConnon playing out of defence to Creese on the right flank. She played a wonderful 30 yard pass that curled behind the Tower defence and found the path of Panting, who had burst through. She unleashed a shot that was too good for the goalkeeper and found its way into the top corner for 1-1. It was a fine assist for Newbury’s skipper and an even finer finish from Panting.

The last 20 minutes of the match were to prove really open, with chances coming at either end, but both goalkeepers were matching each other for heroics, each pulling off a number of very creditable saves. Neither side was content to settle for the draw and the game could have swung either way at this point. For Newbury, Panting, Creese, Reed and Beesley were all denied in the closing stages and they were just unable to find that winning goal. So the match ended one goal apiece, with both sides sharing a point.