The next ten minutes were better from Newbury, with Lorna Parr pushed into a more advanced midfield role and the home side were able to gain some ground higher up the pitch. Newbury’s first effort on goal came from a move started by another midfielder, Sam Atkins, who won the ball in the centre of the park. She threaded a pass out to Nicole Beesley on the left, who cut in and tried a shot from 15 yards that sailed just wide of the post.

Newbury’s first corner of the afternoon came after good work down the right involving Sam McConnon, Lily Chubb and Leanne Creese. The home side still failed to hit the target however, as the corner was crossed in and met well by Gemma Povey, but her effort flew wide. Another Newbury corner saw Sophie Self with a free header and although she connected well with the ball, again the Chesham goal was safe, as the header went the wrong side of the far post with the keeper stranded on her line.

Just before the half time break, Newbury got themselves back on level terms through captain, Leanne Creese. The move began when Naomi Purvis came out of defence to win the ball convincingly. She found a pass to Parr, who played a skilful flick out to Creese, in space on the right wing. Her long shot was perfectly placed and sailed into the roof of the net for one all on 42 minutes. After a sticky start, it was certainly Newbury who were the stronger team as the half time whistle blew.

The second period began in the same way as the first, with Chesham attacking with real purpose. With Newbury’s defence retreating, it was Purvis that conceded a foul inside the area and the Referee had no hesitation in awarding Chesham a penalty for the push on their striker. As the kick was taken, Hunt in the Newbury goal, dived the right way and got a hand to the shot, but it was simply too powerful to keep out and Chesham took a 2-1 lead on 48 minutes.

Newbury now had to re-group and dig deep as a team. Gradually, as the second half developed, Newbury began to assert themselves and were beginning to enjoy some increased pressure in the Chesham half. Just after the hour mark, the home side found an equaliser. Midfielder, Povey passed forward to Beesley and she in turn played in Chubb just inside the penalty area. Chubb kept close control of the ball, jinked and jinked again, beating two defenders, before placing a low shot into the bottom right corner. This gave Newbury a huge boost and brought them back on level terms at two goals apiece.

Newbury launched an immediate attack from the re-start and took the lead just one minute later. This time, it was Atkins for Newbury who won the ball in midfield, with the outlet for the pass again on the left flank, where Beesley was starting to run riot. The same players combined, as Beesley again fed Chubb in the box. She showed tremendous composure to drag the ball back, evading the hopeless challenge of the defender, before shooting high into the top corner for her second goal in as many minutes and Newbury’s third of the afternoon. 3-2 now the score line in Newbury’s favour.

Just three minutes later and Newbury had increased their lead even further following a corner. Although it appeared that Chesham had cleared the initial danger, full back Sam McConnon picked up the loose ball and played in a cross to the edge of the area. This was met by Povey, who headed towards the back post. The ball fell kindly to the ever alert Beesley and her shot was deflected past the keeper for a 4-2 lead, with 66 minutes played.

It was all Newbury attacking pressure now, as Chesham heads had clearly dropped following the three quick Newbury goals. The home side increased their advantage on 70 minutes, after Chesham had half cleared from another corner. Having advanced for the set-play, Newbury’s Sophie Self latched onto the clearance and threaded an intelligent pass out wide to her skipper. Creese swung in a first time cross, which was again met by the head of Povey, who had stayed forward. The ball was helped onto Chubb, who clinically completed her hat-trick with a well-placed finish in the bottom corner. At 5-2, it was effectively game over and victory was all but within Newbury’s grasp.

Before play re-started, Newbury withdrew Leanne Saunders for Ellie Reed and reshuffled their personnel slightly. It didn’t change the tempo or control of the match. Newbury were firmly in charge and really enjoyed the last period of the game, in which they had numerous chances, but were denied several times by two of Chesham’s most experienced defenders, who refused to give up.

As the final whistle blew, Newbury had earned only their second league win of the season, but what a comprehensive victory it was. Newbury had shown terrific character to come from behind twice, with the whole squad fully playing their part in the 5-2 victory, although it will surely be Lily Chubb’s hat-trick performance that grabs all the headlines.