But then with their second attack, New Milton exploited a gap to send their striker through for a one-on-one shooting chance. The finish was clinical, just to the left of Newbury’s goalkeeper and the visitors had an early one nil lead. Despite this set back, Newbury rallied and as the first half continued, the play was very even and it was clear that this was a match between two good footballing sides. Amy McNab was getting through a lot of work up front for Newbury and she was looking particularly effective, not allowing the New Milton defenders to settle or relax for a second. When New Milton did earn a corner, Ellie Reed’s head was the first to meet the ball and clear strongly for the home side. A further New Milton corner, saw a high shot sail safely over the Newbury bar. At the other end, Reed linked up with Harkness, before Reed was able to cut inside and shoot from just outside the area. Whilst the effort was on target, the goalkeeper made a routine save.

Just a minute later and McNab forced her way through a gap, shooting at the near post. But as she did, a New Milton defender just came in with a blocked challenge, to help deflect the ball away. Within seconds of this penalty box action, McNab was clearly struggling and she signalled the need to come off the pitch, having picked up a back injury. So with hardly any warning, Newbury’s Gemma Burnett came on up front in the 34th minute and she looked extremely lively. This posed a new type of problem for the New Milton defence and they were again on the back foot.

Newbury’s best move so far, came just prior to half time, when Beales got on the ball in a central area. She sprayed a nice pass out to the left flank to Reed, who drove towards the by-line. She evaded one defender and then sent in an excellent cross. Becky Anderson had advanced at the back post, but the cross was just too high for her and she was unable to connect with the goal gaping. At the other end, defender, Lauren Hanson, was called upon to make a strong challenge in the area, which denied one of the visiting strikers a shooting chance. And with that, the first half ended with New Milton Town holding onto a slender one nil lead.

A Newbury substitution at the break saw Bec Walker replacing Becky Anderson in midfield and she nearly had a dynamic introduction, when within two minutes of the re-start, she was played in after Burnett had linked well with Beales. The latter’s pass finding Walker in space in the area and her first time, low shot brought a good save from New Milton’s keeper. A lofted pass into the area from Hanson, caused panic for the visiting defence, with excellent movement from both Beales and Burnett. The ball was allowed to bounce and having read the flight and angle of the ball, Burnett was able to clip a shot with the outside of her right boot, back across the goalkeeper and into the net for a Newbury equaliser on 50 minutes. Game on now at one goal apiece.

There would be no let up for New Milton, as they tried to withstand almost constant Newbury attacking pressure. Reed had a penalty claim turned away after a high challenge on her just after the hour mark. Then a Molly Baker corner for Newbury, forced a huge save from New Milton’s goalkeeper. She got her hands to the ball, but could only palm it up onto her cross bar. Fortunately for her, she was able to gather the ball again, as the rebound fell kindly back into her arms.

With fourteen minutes of the 90 remaining, Newbury brought on Imogen Gibbons, with goal scorer, Burnett replaced. This saw Reed moved up into a more central attacking position. Newbury were awarded a free kick midway into the visiting half in the 86th minute. Baker’s accurate delivery was met by Ayala’s Truelove head right on the penalty spot. Her header was just high of the cross bar however, but not that it mattered, as she was judged to be just off side. Still Newbury went in search of a winner, with Reed now popping up in the right hand channel. Again, leaving a defender in her wake, she sent in another excellent cross. Just as Gibbons was running in to meet the ball, a last ditch interception was made by a desperate New Milton defender. But the touch was just enough to clip the ball away from Gibbon’s path and the visitors had again escaped.

With only a few minutes of time added-on, the Referee’s whistle sounded for full time, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. In what had been a hugely entertaining encounter, both teams were satisfied to share a point apiece and it had been a much improved performance for Newbury Ladies. Skipper Caz Harkness taking the plaudits in a Player of the Match display for Newbury, which was typically disciplined and unselfish.

This result sees Newbury Ladies FC move up into fourth place for now in the Southern Region Premier Division table, finishing their season on 21 points, which is their highest ever points tally at this level. (*) With the teams around them in the division still having matches to play, they can in theory be overtaken of course, as Winchester City, Ascot United and MK City all have games in hand. But the 2017/18 season has undoubtedly been one of progress for the First Team Squad of Newbury Ladies FC.

League table and points total to be adjusted for Newbury Ladies FC once they are awarded the 3 points for Team Solent failing to field a team in an earlier fixture.

Match Report by Sue Hewett