Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.29 2021-22

Tanners set high target

Leatherhead 3 Beckenham Town 1; Beckenham Town 0 Leatherhead 1
Leatherhead wrapped up their South East Counties
League Division One West campaign with a double
header win over Beckenham Town. The six points
gained took the Tanners clear of all the other teams
except Steyning Town Community who have no
less than six matches still to play and trail
Leatherhead by sixteen points.
The first half of the opening match saw
Leatherhead in complete command, dominating
proceedings with strong determined forward play
and restricting the visitors with accomplished
defending where necessary. The fact that it took
over twenty minutes for the opening goal was
Neve Connor tries to hold off Ella Moxley
largely down to the fine work of Beckenham keeper (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
Lacey Campbell who was in commanding form
throughout the afternoon.
It was Kacie-Mae Harlow who opened the scoring with a good finish and Maggie
McLoughlin doubled the advantage before the break from the penalty spot.
The hosts continued to dominate with Ella Moxley twice going close before another
McLoughlin spot kick added the third on 38 minutes. Beckenham rallied well in the later
stages and reduced the arrears with their own penalty converted by Aimie Wessell.
Beckenham's improvement continued into the second match, which was a much
tighter contest especially in the first period with Leatherhead struggling to recapture their
earlier fluency. However, the Tanners defence was so well disciplined that keeper Amelia
Penfold was rarely troubled .
It was McLoughlin again who made the difference this time with a fine strike from
distance on 27 minutes. The final session saw Leatherhead regain their attacking flair but
they simply could not find a way past goalkeeper Campbell who excelled in her handling
and bravery in one on one situations.
The hosts were always at risk of a Beckenham equaliser but, despite late pressure
from the resilient Londoners, the sizeable home crowd were able to cheer a second victory
of the afternoon.
The six points guarantee Leatherhead at least runners-up spot in Division One
West in their first season in senior football with Steyning Town Community needing 16
points from their final six fixtures to match the Tanners' impressive total of 46 points from
18 games.
Leatherhead: Amelia Penfold, Ellie Sturton, Amelia Brien, Leia Sherrin, Affrika
Alberts, Eva Keen, Kira Treliving, Alicia Christie, Kacie-May Harlow, Ella Moxley,
Meghan McLoughlin. Subs: Ava Gilbert, Jaime Paige, Sienna Galea-Elston.
Beckenham Town: Lacey Campbell, Hanika Mikova, Freya McKenzie, Paige Bradley,
Hannah Stevens, Tarryn Marsh, Terri Cranstoun, Abigail Stevens, Beth Donovan, Ellie
Hogan, Kayleigh Stenning. Subs: Neve Connor, Lola Brown, Amy Buchanan, Aimie
Wessell, Maddy Chapman.

news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk Issue no. 29 - 7 April 2022