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Sunday 19 October 2003 Women's Premier Reserve League Division 2 South
Bristol City Ladies Reserves
2
-
3
AFC Wimbledon
Match report
BRISTOL CITY LADIES RESERVES 2 AFC WIMBLEDON LADIES RESERVES 3
Three superb strikes gave AFC the points in this exciting league encounter at Bristol on Sunday. For the second week running a strong wind dictated play although this time it was diagonal rather than straight down the pitch which made for a more expansive game.
For a change AFC started brightly with Jaydene Campbell, returning from injury, forming an effective partnership with Michelle Storrier and giving the home defence plenty to think about. With Roxanne Camp and Karen Douglas probing on the flanks and the contrasting skills of Rose Maskell and Joanna Goodwin dovetailing well in midfield AFC saw plenty of ball. It was Storrier who gave AFC the lead on 13 minutes when she expertly volleyed the ball home with the outside of her foot from the edge of the area. Virtually from the restart Charlotte Nash made the first of several crucial saves, pushing the ball wide for a corner before City showed their intent hitting the bar from long range. The end to end action continued with Camp shooting over from a Storrier layoff and Campbell having her header from a Camp corner cleared off the line.
It was then City?s turn to turn up the pressure, Danielle Davies doing well to clear a goal bound shot off the line, before AFC were forced to reorganise when centre back Immy Hillyard had to retire with a re-occurrence of a knee injury. This was a setback for AFC and City soon took advantage when their quicksilver centre forward sprung the offside trap to race clear and score confidently. Back came AFC to finish the half strongly. On 42 minutes Goodwin saw her free kick just clear the bar before she was fouled just outside the area and this time Storrier stepped up to send her shot hard and high into the roof of the net. With the last kick of the half Storrier nearly completed her hat trick, having her shot well saved by the home keeper.
Despite facing the wind in the second half AFC continued to make chances. Full back Lyn Brown was beginning to make a real impression down the right and Campbell, who was a thorn in the City side throughout, went close from her superb cross. On 64 minutes City equalised with a wonderful effort from the home centre forward. She set off on a mazy run from the half way line before finishing coolly for her second of the afternoon. Nash was then called upon to make another 3 tremendous saves when confronted with onrushing forwards but was perhaps fortunate to stay on the field when she brought down a city player on the edge of the box. AFC were now on the back foot but the speed of defenders Rachel Woodland and Sarah Pearce helped weather the storm.
With midfielder Goodwin creating openings and skipper Maskell urging her team forward AFC again took control. Manager Rick Hack went for the win bringing on forward substitutes Lekesha James and Sasha Denny who both went close before the winner came in sensational style on 80 minutes. AFC won a corner on the left and when it was cleared defender Davies, moving into space 35 metres out, volleyed the ball with tremendous power back into the top corner of the net before being engulfed by her team-mates.
AFC had to deal with a few anxious moments from corners in the last couple of minutes but they would not be denied a famous victory to savour on their long coach trip back to Kingsmeadow.
