Photo courtesy of the Newbury Weekly News

Newbury Ladies FC hosted Chesham United at their Donnington Recreation Ground home in the Southern Region Women’s Premier League.

The visitors from Buckinghamshire had the kick off and they forced two early corners. Whilst Newbury dealt with those and then attempted to launch an attack of their own, they fell behind after 11 minutes to a quick Chesham breakaway. Two midfielders ran onto a ball played over the top of the Newbury defence and when a shot was sent in from distance, the ball was deflected off the Newbury defender, Sam Atkins, looping upwards and dropping just under the cross bar and into the far corner of the net to give Chesham an early one nil lead.

All of the attacking play was coming from Chesham United and Kendall Gilmour, in the Newbury goal, was called into action on numerous occasions, making some excellent saves to keep her side in the contest. Chesham were unable to add to their tally and just after the half hour mark, Newbury had a very good opportunity to equalise when captain, Caz Harkness played in Amy McNab. She raced clear of the defence and only had the keeper to beat. But the Chesham goalkeeper was quickly off her line to close down and then matched McNab, as McNab tried to take the ball round her, just getting a toe to the ball, to steer it away for a throw-in far right.

Newbury finished the half well, with a further shot struck by Harkness that worked the keeper, but to no avail. Newbury still trailed 1-0 at the half time break.

The second half began with some heroic defending by Atkins in the Newbury back-line. She was dominant in keeping Chesham’s Gemma Fraser at bay. Fraser has previously played in the Women’s Super League and she is the Southern Region’s top scorer with 24 goals in 8 appearances prior to Sunday. Fraser got lucky though soon after the re-start when she was forced wide by Atkins, but crossed from the by-line. Unfortunately for Newbury, the effort headed goal-wards and sailed into the roof of the net. It was never an attempt at goal, but it counted and it gave Chesham a two goal cushion. Just 6 minutes later and Chesham went into a 3 nil lead after a corner was cruelly sliced into her own net by a Newbury defender.

Newbury responded positively however and they pulled a goal back within 5 minutes. Keeper, Gilmour, launched a long clearance down field which Bex Walker was able to latch onto ahead of the Chesham defence. Her deft finish beating the keeper at the near post. 3-1 the score-line, but with only 12 minutes of normal time remaining.

Further half chances came for both sides, but when the Referee blew for time, it was Chesham United who had scored three goals, with just one in reply from Newbury and that was enough for Chesham to take the three points back to Buckinghamshire and keep their promotion push on track. Newbury had given a much improved display and will take a lot of confidence going into their County Cup Semi Final against the same opposition in just 2 week’s time. And with bottom of the table Bracknell Town Ladies also losing on Sunday, going down 6-0 to Southampton Women, Newbury remain ahead of Bracknell on points and ahead on goal difference.

Match Report by Sue Hewett