Further chances came and went, until in the 26th minute a piece of luck went Newbury’s way and they found the breakthrough. There was some good interplay around the City Belles box by Beesley, Panting and Lorna Parr. With the City Belles defence under all sorts of pressure, their defender played a loose ball back towards her goalkeeper. Unsure of whether to pick the ball up or not, the keeper had a moment’s hesitation, which proved disastrous. She fumbled the ball and it trickled past her and into the net, to give Newbury a one nil lead. An own goal seemed cruel on City Belles’ young side, but it was no more than Newbury’s good play had deserved.

With Sam Atkins now dominant in midfield for Newbury, they were able to launch attack after attack, but the visitors’ defence held firm and stopped Newbury from increasing their lead. It remained just one nil at the break.

The second half started in the same way as the first, with Newbury pressing down both flanks. Any hint that City Belles might build an attack, following their clearances out from defence, were quickly dispelled by the Newbury back line, which looked more than comfortable and in control.

The first guilt-edged chance for Newbury came just 10 minutes after the re-start, when a Leanne Creese cross from the right was met by the head of an unmarked Rachel Panting, after she had ghosted into the area. Her header was strong, but narrowly wide. The chance signalled danger for City Belles and just 2 minutes later, Newbury had doubled their lead. Atkins again won the ball in midfield and released Ellie Reed down the left. She fed Panting and her shot sailed high over the keeper and into the roof of the net for two nil.

Newbury were now well on top and were threatening with every move. They felt assured enough to make their first substitution on 67 minutes, with Reed replaced by Emma O’Leary. O’Leary moved into the central striking role, with Beesley coming out to the left wing.

Just 4 minutes later and the outcome of the match was put beyond all doubt, as Newbury scored their third goal of the afternoon. It was the 71st minute and Panting was still going strong after her return from a recent injury. It was her good creative work in the right hand channel that meant the ball was worked out to Newbury captain, Creese. From wide right, she supplied a first time finish that was inch perfect, as it eluded the helpless goalkeeper and swept in just under the cross bar. Three nil now the score line.

Before play could resume, this three goal advantage allowed Newbury to make a change in goal, with O’Leary taking over keeping duties and Chloe Hunt getting a very rare opportunity for a run-out up front. Hunt almost scored too within minutes of her introduction in attack, as she met a Creese cross on the volley. It was a great effort, but it sadly flew just wide.

Newbury’s last substitution was made in the 81st minute, with Creese withdrawn and Zoe Davie brought on for her third appearance of the season. Two further goal attempts fell to Hunt, with one shot saved and the other charged down. The last action of the match saw Panting once again tear through the middle of the City Belles defence, only to pull her shot wide of the target. And so it finished three nil to Newbury Ladies, in what had been a very good afternoon for the home side.