Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.17 2022-23

Actonians Ladies 4 Cambridge Utd 3
Actonians and Cambridge United warmed up
a chilly afternoon at Rectory Park with a
seven-goal thriller in their FAWNL Division
One South East encounter.
The hosts. playing a most attractive
brand of attacking football, were ahead for
most of the match but United were able to keep
the scoreline close with some attacking
efficiency of their own.
Cambridge nearly took a third minute
lead when Sydnie Naylor set up Sarah
Wiltshire but her shot flew over Amy Butler's
goal. Most of the next half hour was in
Actonians' favour with Samaira Khan being Sarah Wiltshire is challenged by Domenika Netschova
denied by a fine Lauren Webb save on 11 (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
minutes and Dominika Netschova causing all
sorts of danger with runs and crosses.
The Actonians pressure eventually brought dividends via a penalty converted by
Natsumi Kanno on 29 minutes, Meila D'Santos shot wide when well placed as the hosts
continued to threaten but five minutes before the break, the U's were level when a corner
was half cleared to Abbie Jackson for a good finish.
Actonians were soon back on the front foot on the restart and a pair of superb long
range finishes - one low by Khan on 53 minutes from the right side and then Netschova high
beyond Webb from wide on the left three minutes later - seemed to have sent the hosts clear.
However, within a minute Cambridge had halved the deficit through a Bella Simmons
header and they continued to threaten periodically but most of the action centered round
Webb's goal with substitutes Roschelle Shakes and Alessandra Barreca adding further
threat.
Corners had been a feature of Actonians attacking threat all afternoon and from one
far post delivery, Sarah Coomson was on hand to fire home a loose ball on 79 minutes and
restore the two-goal advantage.
Webb kept the visitors alive with a couple of good saves, then Cambridge found
another goal in added time to give the hosts a nervous last few moments before the final
whistle blew.
All in all a thoroughly entertaining match which both sides emerging with credit.
Actonians join the pack chasing runaway leaders Hashtag United whilst United remain in
seventh place in Division One South East.
Actonians Ladies: Amy Butler, Anna Shimizu, Chihiro Ebine, Naomi Graham, Sarah
Coomson, Jessica Drage, Natsumi Kanno, Maria Ledezma-Viso, Samaira Khan,
Dominika Netschova, Meila D’Santos. Subs: Roschelle Shakes, T’yana Nee-Chambers,
Alessandra Barreca, Georgia Goldsworthy, Ashleigh Harte, Summer James-Addy.
Cambridge Utd: Lauren Webb, Lauren Rouse, Carrie Bennett, Gisela Otten, Abigail
Davies, Samantha Edgar, Sarah Wiltshire, Sydnie Naylor, Isabella Simmons, Francesca
Partridge, Abbie Jackson. Subs: Alysha Stojko-Down, Mayzee Seymour, Ella Marden,
Kaylen Gerkey.

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