The visitors kicked off the match, but it was Newbury who took possession and went on the attack, with a neat passing move involving Tracey Beales, Gemma Burnett and Caz Harkness. Finishing with a Ruby Oliver cross into the Tilehurst penalty area, that was just too deep. Two minutes later, Burnett was played in, but she sent her first time shot over the bar. Further Newbury efforts came from Lauren Hanson and Beales, and without doubt the home side were totally dominant.

Newbury made their first rotating substitutions after 11 minutes, with the withdrawal of Harkness and Burnett. They were replaced by debutants, Ayala Truelove and Jana Penazova. Followed shortly by the introduction of Becky Anderson in place of Beales. The midway point of the half saw winger, Alice Hill, enter the fray for Newbury and she was to have a decisive influence, crossing straight away for Anderson in a central position. Sadly there was not enough power in the shot and the Tilehurst keeper was able to gather. Just a minute later and Newbury found themselves in front rather fortuitously, after good work by Oliver. She was supported by Hill and when it looked as though the chance for Oliver had passed, Hill was on hand to pounce on the loose ball from just 6 yards and fire in for one nil. Whilst there appeared to be a touch of ‘offside’ for the goal, there were no real protests from the visitors and the goal was allowed to stand. One nil to Newbury.

That score-line remained until the half time break and Newbury went in with a one nil lead.

The second half re-started with further changes in personnel for Newbury. Beales came on for Oliver, and goalscorer Alice Hill and Leanne Saunders were replaced by Chloe Mitchard and Phoebe Gubb. However it was not the best of starts for the home side, with a harsh free kick awarded against defender, Nicole Pearce, right on the edge of the Newbury penalty area and in a very central position. The free kick taker aimed high and the ball looped over the goalkeeper and just below the cross bar. It was a very awkward shot for the keeper and Passfield was unable to keep the ball out. This gave Tilehurst Panthers a lifeline and they were back on level terms at one all early in the half.

Newbury then settled again and the second half began to unfold with much the same pattern of play as in the first period, with wave after wave of Newbury attack. Goal scoring opportunities came and went for Gubb and Beales. But then a terrific ball into the channel was played by Harkness, finding Beales, who still had work to do. She turned, beating the defender and finding just enough space to curl a delightful left foot shot from distance that sailed into the far top corner. Newbury were back in the lead at 2-1, which was a just reward for their dominance in possession.

Just after the hour mark, Newbury extended their lead further when a lovely cross-field ball from Truelove was swept into the path of returning sub, Alice Hill. As the keeper came out, Hill rounded her easily and then slid the ball into the empty net for 3-1. It was Hill’s second goal of the match, in a display of high energy from her. Newbury were not quite finished though and they wrapped up the scoring in the 84th minute in a similar manner to their third goal. This time it was Burnett that ran through and found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Again she took the ball round the keeper for an easy tap in. 4-1 to Newbury and that was how the match finished.

Match report by Sue Hewett