Yellawomen’s first half blitz underpins 6-1 victory
Nicole Brown scored a hat-trick as Ascot United Women romped to a 6-1 victory over Oxford City Nomads on Sunday. Brown scored two late goals to complete her treble in a comfortable win for Darrel Evans’s side, who kept the pressure on league leaders Abingdon United.
It was just over a quarter of an hour before the home side took the lead, but it was worth waiting for as November player of the month Izzy Woods cracked home a long range effort to make it 1-0.
Dom Carrington added a second goal at the midway point of the half, scrambling home after the visitors had initially done well to keep the ball out in a goalmouth melee.
But when Georgia Luckhurst-McCord slotted home number three moments later the game was already running away from Oxford; Sarah Davern having swung the corner in which led to the chance.
Brown then pounced to make it 4-0, before Tiff Skinner’s shot was well blocked by defender Amber Le Beau and Alix Todd (pictured, credit Glen Alcock) and Carrington linked up well for the latter, whose shot was well saved just before the break; 4-0 it remained as the sides changed ends.
Much credit goes to Oxford City however, as they emerged from the break with vigour and might have scored only for a fine, back-pedalling save from home ‘keeper Lucie White to tip a free kick onto the crossbar.
At the other end, an otherwise quiet Yellawomen went close when Brown’s long-range shot skimmed an upright, but it was City who scored what proved to be a fine consolation when Jess Bickerstaff swivelled and crashed a sublime effort into the top right-hand corner with three minutes remaining.
But Brown had the last laughs with two late goals for her hat-trick, firstly tapping home after Georgia Bowers was unable to convert Brown’s initial cross, before showing fine feet to round the ‘keeper and slot home in added time.
Abingdon United’s win at Burnham meant they stay four points clear of the second-placed Yellawomen, but Ascot have a game in hand.
Ascot United: White, Luckhurst-McCord, Killick-Bird, Cruickshanks, Spark, Woods, Carrington, Todd, Brown, Skinner, Davern. Subs (all used): Connor, Last, Bowers, Bennett
Reporters MOM: Alix Todd. Excellent in the middle, great distribution and practised what she preaches.
