Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.20 2022-23

Abingdon Utd 2 Denham Utd 0
Abingdon United clinched the Southern Region
League Premier Division title with a 2-0 home
success over closest rivals Ascot United and
celebrated the realisation of a long held ambition
to play in the F A Women's National League.
Formed in 2017, the club's rise from County
league beginnings has been marked by truncated
seasons and epic rivalries within the regional
structure but the biggest moment was played out
in a most convincing manner in front of an
enthusiastic and supportive crowd.
Ascot United had defeated Abingdon in
both League and more recently in the League
Cup and needed to make it a hat-trick of victories Molly Lygo closes down Sarah Killick-Bird
to have a chance of overhauling them for the title. (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
However, the hosts were in no mood to let their big
day go wrong and barely gave the visitors a sniff of a chance throughout the whole match.
What was needed was an early goal to settle the nerves and it duly arrived courtesy of
Megan Crawford firing a loose ball home on fifteen minutes. Ascot kept in the game with
some very solid defending and alert goalkeeping from Lucie White but there were some
close calls as the half developed. Amy Pipe lifted a bouncing ball inches over after a Sahara
Osborne-Ricketts free kick was flicked on after 27 minutes. Molly Lygo was denied by
White's speed off her line then hit a curling effort just wide on 41 minutes.
Ascot started the second half brightly and Hannah Cox had to punch one loose ball
clear under pressure at the edge of her area as the visitors sought to turn the home defence
with early passes. Even so, the back four were generally rock solid as they looked for a 12th
clean sheet of the season.
At the other end, the Ascot defence was also doing a good job and clear cut chances
were very few, Abingdon did force numerous corners and it was from one of these that the
decisive second goal came on 80 minutes. Lygo's delivery caused a scramble in the area and
Lindsey Pinker was on hand to strike home the loose ball.
Sadly, Ascot keeper White had to go off injured after taking two heavy challenges
whilst claiming high balls but the final whistle came soon after amid scenes of joy for the
home players, coaching staff and fans. With a first ever County Cup final to come next
month these are exciting times for the newly crowned Southern Region League Premier
Division Champions, Abingdon United.
Abingdon Utd: Hannah Cox, Charlie Deeley, Amy Pipe, Amy Chivers, Sahara Osborne-
Ricketts, Maisie Hastings, Megan Crawford, Nell Boxall, Lauren May, Lindsay Pinker,
Molly Lygo. Subs: Sophie Kirby, Millie Hume, Beth Chapman, Stephanie Carrick, Rosie
McCabe.
Ascot Utd: Lucie White, Georgia Luckhurst-McCord, Claire Couzens, Hannah Bennett,
Laura Spark, Philippa Holden, Dom Carrington, Alix Todd, Nicole Brown, Hayley
Cruickshank, Izzy Woods. Subs: Lily Last, Chloe Connor, Sarah Killick-Bird, Tiffany
Skinner, Amelia Kimble.

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