They were unable to gain any sort of foothold in the contest, as Basingstoke attacked at will, looked relaxed and played their style of passing, flowing football. They extended their lead to three goals in the 19th minute, with a looping header into the roof of the Newbury net, following a corner. Newbury made an immediate substitution, with striker Kendall Gilmour entering the fray. Within five minutes, she produced her side’s one glimmer of hope so far. Ellie Reed playing the ball back to Gilmour, who shot from 25 yards. This forced the Basingstoke keeper into a fingertip save, pushing the ball up onto the cross bar and then seeing it deflect away to safety.

As half time approached, Basingstoke were on the offensive again, scoring a fourth goal in the 40th minute. They then struck to make it five nil on 43 minutes and Newbury were out for the count. In the last minute of the first half, Newbury did make headway on the left, winning a free kick 25 yards out, which Reed took and saw her effort frustratingly clip the cross bar when the keeper was well beaten. It remained five nil at the break.

Whether Basingstoke Town took their foot off the gas in the second half, or whether the home side rallied and looked more solid, there was certainly a slight improvement in Newbury’s performance level. Again, Newbury had one or two opportunities, but Basingstoke calmly saw the game out and kept their clean sheet. They didn’t add to their goals in the second period and they didn’t need to. The match was won convincingly in the first half, with the three points going to Basingstoke and the match ending five nil.

Report by Sue Hewett.