After the initial exchanges, it was Banbury who began to assert themselves and who were looking to press their home advantage. Their attacking front line were causing plenty of problems with their speed and rotational movement. Laura Ainscough, in the Newbury goal, was called into action on the quarter hour mark, saving well down to her right. She was then able to launch a very quick attack for Newbury, with Gemma Burnett linking up with Captain, Leanne Creese on the right flank. She fed the ball inside to Panting, who had advanced from deep, but she was foiled again with her second attempt on the Banbury goal.

As the first half progressed, the two teams looked evenly matched. Newbury won a corner after good work by Burnett in the 26th minute. Creese’s delivery was excellent, but the cross just evaded every player in the penalty area, when all it needed was the slightest touch. Next it was Banbury’s turn to force a corner just two minutes later. They would have scored from this, but the goal-bound header was superbly cleared off the line for Newbury by Leanne Saunders, who was guarding the near post.

The deadlock was broken on 31 minutes and it was Newbury who opened the scoring. Panting was sent clear wide on the right and she played in a cross from close to the by-line. With Ellie Reed lurking at the far post, she would surely have supplied the finish, but the Banbury full back panicked and she turned the ball into the roof of her own net with a defensive header. One nil to the visitors.

Newbury were unable to maintain their lead going into the half time break however, as Banbury found an equaliser in the 41st minute. For the first time they managed to outnumber the Newbury defence inside the area and Ainscough was unable to prevent a shot from creeping just inside the left hand post. One goal each at the break.

After the re-start, Newbury came out with real attacking purpose. Both Panting and Burnett had early chances. A lot of Panting’s success was coming through the right hand channel and when she beat the defender to go clear again, she elected to shoot from a very tight angle, hoping to lob the keeper. She achieved this, but saw the ball land on the roof of the net, agonisingly above the crossbar.

Just when it looked like Banbury might start to threaten, another quick fire Newbury breakthrough saw them re-take the lead. Panting was again the architect, collecting a pass inside her own half. As the ball bobbled, it appeared to both benches that Panting had used her upper arm to help control the ball and keep it within her path. The Referee however was un-sighted and play continued. With the Banbury defence back-peddling, Panting played in Creese, who had advanced on the right. She unleashed a first time effort from 25 yards that crashed off the underside of the bar and into the net for 2-1.

For all of the home side’s protests, the goal stood, but as Banbury kicked off, they were clearly still reeling and had lost focus. Newbury were quick to capitalise, winning the ball back in midfield and finding Creese. Her cross fell to Panting on the edge of the area and she set herself, before curling in a delightful shot that beat the keeper on her right. 3-1 now the score line in Newbury’s favour with 29 minutes remaining.

Burnett was replaced by Nicole Beesley for Newbury on 64 minutes, to add some fresh legs up front. The next phase of the game saw Newbury come under some real pressure, with Ainscough saving one handed from one Banbury corner and then punching clear another. Beesley played her part well, holding the ball up when it came to her and winning her team several throw-ins, that all helped to relieve the pressure.

It was good game management by Newbury, who were refusing to allow Banbury any chance to get back into the contest. As the clocked ticked down, Sam McConnon was introduced at full back on 86 minutes, with Lorna Parr pushed forward in place of Reed. Newbury saw the game out well and claimed another 3 valuable points for the second week running. With all other teams in the division in cup action last weekend, Newbury’s win pushed them up into 3rd place in Division One North of the Southern Region Women’s League.

Match report by Sue Hewett