| Newbury Ladies hosted Bracknell Town ladies in the league this week, the first time the side had met this season. Newbury started brightly with Nicole Beesley putting good pressure on the Bracknell defence. An early change came to Newbury in the second minute of the game when Beesley held up the ball near the right hand corner flag and played a neat pass into the box to Caroline Harkness, who’s first time shot was tipped onto the crossbar by the alert Bracknell goalkeeper.
Some good play down the left hand side by Newbury followed, but the home side were unable to find that clinical final ball. Newbury did however win a corner, which Leanne Creese delivered to the near post, met by a fantastic volley by Ellie Reed to be palmed away by the Bracknell goalkeeper.
Bracknell fought back with some positive play down the right hand side, but their final ball was called offside. Newbury were continuing to press, trying to find an opening and with Maria Rodrigues coming on for Nicole Beesley, Ellie Reed had moved upfront. Almost immediately Reed was involved, receiving a through ball from Caroline Harkness, however with a strong wide the ball went straight through to the advancing Bracknell keeper. A minute later the keeper was in action again. Leanne Creese played a through pass onto Caroline Harkness who chased the ball, putting the goal keeper under pressure who then mishandled the ball back into path of Ellie Reed, who calmly slotted home from the edge of the area to take the home side 1-0 up. Newbury were looking solid in defence and disciplined in midfield and retained the lead into half time.
Bracknell came out fighting in the second half and won an early free kick on the edge of the Newbury penalty area, which was hit just over the cross bar. This spurred Newbury back into life and Ellie Reed made a great run in the Banbury Bracknell half to play in Kela Gunnlaugsdottir who created enough space for a left footed shot on the edge of the area, but was comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper.
Leanne Creese was also working hard on the right wing and won a corner to the home team. With another good delivery Ellie Reed received the ball and played it back across the edge of the penalty area to Caroline Harkness, who shot just over the bar. Nicole Beesley then had a good opportunity after good interplay between Ellie Reed and Caroline Harkness down the left wing, taking on the defender and the advancing goalkeeper, shooting just wide into the side netting.
Banbury Bracknell were pressing for a goal and won a free kick wide on the right, this was taken direct with the shot going wide of the goal. However the pressure continued and with 5 minutes remaining, Banbury Bracknell won the ball in midfield resulting in a long range shot which looped over Laura Ainscough in the Newbury goal, hitting the post and going in, levelling the scores at 1-1.
Newbury restarted quickly and tried to retain the lead, one last opportunity came with a free kick 35 yards out. Leanne Creese played the ball into the area but the confident Bracknell keeper calmly gathered the ball.
Match report by Caroline Harkness
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