Newbury Ladies Football
Match Report -- Season 2016-17
Southern Region Women's Football League Premier Division
29th January 2017
Newbury 1 Oxford City 6
Newbury Ladies FC hosted league leaders Oxford City Ladies on Sunday in the Southern Region Women's Premier League.

Newbury took the first kick off however were under immediate pressure from Oxford City, with goalkeeper Nicky Isted forced to make two early saves. Newbury were defending well and after a good attacking break down the right wing the home side won a throw deep into the Oxford city half. Pressure from the throw saw Oxford concede a corner, nearly 10 minutes into the game. Ellie Reed put in a fast and dangerous cross, which the Oxford City keeper was unable to keep out seeing the ball fly into the roof of the net. Newbury took an early 1-0 lead.

This lead was however very short lived, with Oxford scoring directly after the kick off, with a floated through ball being met by the Oxford striker who took her shot very well. Oxford City then continued with the attacking pressure. Newbury held firm until the 14th minute when a strong run through the middle by the Oxford attacker saw them take the lead with another well placed shot. 1-2 Oxford.

Newbury continued to try and get further up the pitch and some good play by Ruby Oliver and Caz Harkness saw the home side win a corner down the left hand side. Ellie Reed again stepped up trying to again put pressure on the Oxford goalkeeper and defence however her corner was headed away by an Oxford defender.

The next 5 minutes saw Oxford extend their lead with two separate attacks, firstly down the right wing and secondly down the left wing with both shots going in off the far post giving the Newbury keeper Nicky Isted no chance.

With 20 minutes left of the first half Newbury tried to prevent any further goals and continued with some good attacking play, however the Oxford city keeper was alert on 3 occasions coming off her line and saved well from shots from Caroline Harkness and Amie Barnard, with Amie also putting one strike over the bar. Newbury were unable to convert their chances and the score going into half time was 1-4 Oxford.

The start of the second half started much like the first with Oxford putting early pressure on the home side. Newbury contained the pressure until 10 minutes into the half when a soft freekick was conceded just outside the Newbury penalty area. The Oxford city midfielder hit a hard and well placed shot to the right of the wall and to the left of the Newbury keeper. 1-5 Oxford.

Further pressure saw the Newbury defence very busy with Nicky Isted making some great saves and Lauren Hansen making a block on the line after Newbury frantically trying to clear the ball. However after nearly 80 minutes Oxford city got their sixth with Sam Atkins making a great challenge down the left side only to see the ball unfortunately rebound directly to an Oxford city attacker directly in front of the Newbury goal, providing an easy pass into the Newbury net.

The last 10 minutes saw Newbury have some greater spells of possession in a more disciplined second half, however were unable to put any real pressure on the Oxford City goalkeeper. With the final score 1-6 to Oxford, who showed why they are top of the division, with plenty of organisation and real attacking threat.

Matchreport by Caz Harkness

Players: Nicky Isted, Lauren Hanson, Lorna Kinder-Parr, Leanne Saunders, Megan Kirby, Lisa Elboth, Ellie Reed, Sam Atkins, Caroline Harkness (capt), Amie Barnard, Maria Rodrigues, Bex Walker, Nicole Beesley, Amy Myers, Ruby Oliver.
Referee: Jake Atkinson
Goal scorers
Ellie Reed
Player of the match
Sam Atkins
Next fixture

Southern Region Premier

League season closed
at