Newbury kicked off and immediately on the attack down both flanks with Sophie Papworth and Rebecca Walker looking very lively. However after 5 minutes Mortimer started to come into the game. Particularly attacking down the right where the Newbury defence was holding up well. Over the next few minutes Mortimer got in a couple of long shots which were wide of goal. Newbury countered with a couple of moves started by Nicole Beesley. Goalkeeper Kat Brown was then brought into action with a fine diving save at the feet of the attacker. Nicole Pearce in defence was also making crucial interceptions.

However Mortimer were starting to dominate in central midfield, being first to the bal,l and were now giving the Newbury defence a lot to think about. On 20 minutes Mortimer got their reward with a fine shot over the advancing Brown to give them a 1-0 lead. The attacks continued with some desperate Newbury defending. During one of these Megan Kirby went down injured in the box and had to be substituted.

The Mortimer attacks continued with the Newbury defence holding up well. Brown making another fine save. Newbury did have the odd attack but mostly the ball was running through to the opposition keeper. However with half time approaching Newbury came back into the game, first Papworth almost got through but the defence and keeper did really well. Then after Papworth and Walker combined well Maria Rodrigues had a close shot just over the bar. On balance 1-0 to Mortimer was probably a fair score at half time.

The second half started evenly but after 4 minutes there was a major incident when the Mortimer keeper was red carded for deliberate hand ball outside the area as she desperately tried to take the ball off Walkers feet as she was trying to shoot on the edge of the box. This did not stop Mortimer who continued to press hard. Brown made another big save from a corner and Saide Gulliver cleared.

Newbury then got back onto the attack, first Papworth had an opportunity but failed to get the ball over the keeper, then Walker and Ayala Truelove had opportunities but the defence was equal to it. The best opportunity came when Truelove passed to Walker whose shot was saved for a corner. Newbury was now having much more of the attacking game. Beesley in particular was having a lot of influence including a superb free kick which Truelove was unlucky not to connect with.

A notable moment occurred when defender Pearce received the ball some 25 yards when the Mortimer defence cleared a Newbury corner she struck the ball accurately and the stand in keeper did well to save for another corner. It was from this corner that the game turned as the ball was handled and Newbury were awarded a penalty. There was a long wait for this as a Mortimer player had gone down injured in the box but Saunders struck the ball firmly into the top of the net leaving the keeper no chance. With 2 minutes to go Beesley could have won the game but for an excellent save by the keeper. A draw being an excellent result. Just like last week it was Newbury who enjoyed the draw.

Match report by Jack Harkness