Newbury Ladies FC started the day second bottom of the Southern Region Women’s Premier Division, but level on points with their south coast opponents, Team Solent. In a game made more difficult by the heavy pitch and high winds, Newbury Ladies finished the day with a hard fought victory, a new points total for the season of 11 and they jumped up to sixth in the league standings, moving above both Team Solent and MK City, who’s own match had been called off.

The match got underway and although it had been Team Solent who had kicked off, it was Newbury who were straight onto the offensive, with Nicole Beesley the first to test the visiting keeper. She next tried to slot Bex Walker through, but the wind carried the pass safely through to the goalkeeper. Newbury were then un-done in the 10th minute, when Team Solent had their first foray into the Newbury area. Some neat play saw the two visiting strikers link up well and despite the attentions of Newbury defender, Leanne Saunders, Solent’s number 7 kept her balance to guide her shot into the far corner. Although against the run of play, Team Solent took an early one nil lead.

This set back stung Newbury’s players into life and within two minutes of the re-start, captain Caz Harkness went on a marauding run forward, where she was able to shoot from inside the Solent penalty area. Although her shot was off target, the goalkeeper’s momentum carried her into Harkness and she was upended as a result of the late challenge and contact. There was to be no penalty however, as the Referee waved all Newbury’s appeals away. Solent went straight down the other end and won a corner. It was from that set play that two Newbury players collided and had a very nasty clash of heads. The game was halted for five minutes so both players could receive treatment. Whilst Saunders was deemed ok to continue, Harkness had fared the worst and she was sensibly withdrawn from the field. Tracey Beales replacing her on just 17 minutes.

As the first half continued, the one bright spark for Newbury was again Nicole Beesley, who seemed to be at the centre of every piece of good attacking play by the home side. On 25 minutes, Ruby Oliver did well to put the Solent defence under pressure and win a corner. When Solent failed to clear the first ball into the area, Ellie Reed’s cross found Beesley lurking at the back post and she finished well to put Newbury back on level terms. One goal apiece. Unfortunately for both Beesley and Newbury, she suffered an ankle injury just three minutes later and had to be replaced with Amie Barnard.

With half time approaching, Lauren Hanson took the initiative making a run from deep down the Newbury left. She cut infield as she entered Solent’s final third and played a diagonal pass into the box to Oliver. Still with plenty of work to do and trying to shake off the close attentions of a defender, Oliver made herself a yard of space, adjusted her body and kept her balance long enough to stab home into the bottom corner. 2-1 now to Newbury. Before the half time whistle, Solent had just enough time to venture forward once more, but a very good low save from Nicky Isted in the Newbury goal, kept the home side’s slender lead intact at the half way point.

The second half began the same as the first, with Newbury on the front foot. This time, Barnard stole in from the right and although her run took her wide of the goal, she cut the ball back from the by-line and into the path of Reed inside the six yard box. Crucially for Newbury, Reed was unable to find the back of the net, sending her first time shot the wrong side of the upright. Team Solent forced an immediate corner and it was from that set play, that they scored an equaliser with a well placed header. 2-2 now the score, with 49 minutes played.

Another big chance came in the 55th minute, but it was from a Team Solent attack. As a long range shot cannoned back off the Newbury cross bar, it looked like the Solent striker would be the first to react and reach the re-bound. But she was to be denied by a titanic challenge from Newbury defender, Hanson, who threw herself in to block the shot and was then fouled in the process. It was a big moment in the match and it kept Newbury in it. Newbury then rallied and forced corner after corner, but they were unable to make the pressure count. Solent now hanging onto the 2-2 score-line. Barnard had a great chance to take the lead when she was played through, but she shot straight at the keeper. Newbury substitute, Amy McNab, was the next to find Barnard with a great cross. But this time Barnard’s effort hit the base of the post and then deflected off a Solent defender for another corner.

With time running out for Newbury, they made a brave tactical switch for the last 5 minutes, throwing on another attacker in place of the more defensive minded Lorna Kinder-Parr. And it was substitute Tracey Beales, who provided the moment of inspiration for Newbury. In time added-on, Reed sent in a free kick from the half way line and Beales timed her run brilliantly to remain on-side. Collecting the high ball, she controlled well and then crashed a shot into the roof of the net, leaving the Solent keeper with no chance. Newbury’s relief was unmistakable, but it was pure joy for Beales, who had scored her first goal of the season and her first for Newbury Ladies, clinching the winner in such dramatic circumstances and with almost the final kick of the game. With no time to respond, Team Solent were sunk by three goals to two, with the win seeing Newbury leapfrog their opponents to move up two places in the Southern Region Women’s Premier League.

Match report by Sue Hewett.