Ascot United Women v Havant & Waterlooville Women

Report

YELLAWOMEN CRUISE INTO LEAGUE CUP SEMI FINALS

 

Super six as Ascot down Havant & Waterlooville

 

Ascot United Women returned to action after a three week break with a 6-0 league cup quarter final win against Havant and Waterlooville Women on Sunday. Leah Littlechild’s sublime hat-trick contributed half of her side’s goals in-and-around Erin Huntley’s sensational solo strike. Ultimately The Yellawomen, who lead the Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division, were too strong for their Division 1 (South) visitors.

 

Strong starting line up; Todd reaches milestone

Bench aside, the teamsheet had a familiar look with most of the key figures in the starting eleven. And, Alix Todd made her 140^th appearance for the home side, becoming the most decorated Yellawomen since their promotion to steps six and five.

 

The substitutes included a number of reserve and U18’s; and their time would surely come. Sadly, defender Georgia Luckhurst-McCord it set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines having ruptured her achilles tendon in the win over Oxford City last time out, although Kate Fox and Alice Balaam both returned after picking up knocks during that encounter.

 

Dominant Yellawomen take control of game

In an entertaining first half, the visitors would strike Jodie Gray-Piazza’s crossbar inside three minutes through Millie McNamara, but after that it was all one-way traffic in Ascot’s favour.

 

Six minutes in, Andy Cox’s side took the lead when Todd picked out Liv Glover on the left, Glover cut the ball across for Beth Lloyd, Lloyd flicked the ball on and Kate Fox side-footed into an open goal.

 

Littlechild then curled a long-range left footed effort onto the top of the angle of the left-hand post and crossbar eighteen minutes in, but would add a second with a screamer just five minutes later. This time, Lloyd’s intelligent nod down found Littlechild in space, and she hammered a left-footed volley into the right hand corner from outside the box.

 

Goal of the season bets off; Erin take a bow

But what happened next was simply outstanding. Defender Huntley picked the ball up just inside the Hawks’ area and slalomed her way around a staggering four visiting players, before keeping enough composure in the box to smash into the top left hand corner (pictured, shooting-stars.co.uk). There will surely not be a better goal scored at The Racecourse this season.

 

That made it 3-0 to Ascot, before Lloyd got in on the act with an unorthodox flicked effort for number four in the 31^st minute, although Darcy Mitchell’s exit with a nasty-looking knee injury cast a shadow over the half, which finished 4-0.

 

Fewer chances in second half but hosts maintain control

The increasingly strong wind and rain impacted the second half, although it did not stop Littlechild weighing in with another goal in the 64^th minute. This time, she drove forwards, played a neat one-two with substitute Amy Paver, and drilled low under the visiting ‘keeper Emily Paines and into the net.

 

Paver would be involved in Ascot’s sixth and final goal in the 79^th minute, charging down Paines’s clearance before Littlechild cracked home from distance via the inside of the left-hand post for another goal out of the top drawer.

 

Both Fox and Alice Balaam forced fine saves out of the Hawks’ number one in added time – 6-0 the final score – and The Yellawomen join Winchester, Portchester, and the winners of the Sholing v Fleet tie – they kicked off later on Sunday – in the semi-finals.

 

What’s next for Ascot?

The Yellawomen are back in league action next Sunday when they welcome Winchester City Flyers as their title pursuit continues.

 

Ascot United: Gray-Piazza, Mitchell, Todd, Huntley, Torry, Holden, Balaam, Fox, Littlechild, Lloyd, Glover. Subs (all used): Rowntree, Cox, Paver, Ward, Banduka

 

Entertainment: 4

Reporter’s Star Player: Leah Littlechild (Ascot United)

Attendance (estimate): 100