When another Reed shot was pushed round the post for a corner in the 26th minute, Newbury sensed a possible break through. Jana Penazova’s corner was only cleared to the edge of the area, where Shelley Forster was lurking for Newbury. She took a first time shot using the outside of her right boot and saw the ball dip just under the bar and into the net for one nil. It was a cute strike.

Newbury extended their lead just three minutes later, after further pressure in the visitor’s penalty area. Again, the ball was part cleared by the Solent defence, but this time Ayala Truelove had pushed up in support and after winning the ball back 30 yards out, she then clipped the ball straight back into the box. Amie Barnard collected the pass and dinked her shot over the keeper’s head and into the far corner for two nil.

With confidence extremely high, Newbury kept up the pressure and within minutes had a third goal. This time Forster turned provider, laying a pass back to captain, Caz Harkness. Her first time shot from 30 yards sailed into the top corner, leaving the keeper totally helpless. With just over half an hour played, Newbury now had a convincing three nil lead.

Just prior to half time, in the 44th minute, Harkness claimed her second goal of the game, again assisted by midfield partner, Forster. This time, after controlling with her first touch, she shot with her second from 25 yards. The outcome was the same, an unstoppable shot to put Newbury four goals ahead at the half time break.

The second half continued in the same way, with wave after wave of Newbury attacks. Just after the hour mark, Gemma Burnett got onto the score sheet, after a good through ball from Harkness. Shaking off the close attentions of the last defender, Burnett was strong, as she stormed into the area. She found a composed finish to steer the ball past the on-rushing keeper. Five nil now to Newbury, in what was proving to be a dominant attacking display.

The scoring was rounded off in the 89th minute, when Harkness played a pass out wide to Truelove. Her cross accurately picked out the run of Amy McNab, who controlled and then fired in with her next touch. Another classy move for Newbury and a fitting finish. Newbury notching up an excellent six nil victory, that saw them move into second place in the Premier Division, behind early pace setters, Chesham United.

Match Report by Sue Hewett