Hampstead Move Closer To Promotion
FA Greater London League Division III
Fulham FC 0 Hampstead Women’s FC 12
Sunday, 25 March, 2007
HWFC started brightly and in an attacking 4-4-2 formation peppered the Fulham goal in the first ten minutes. The breakthrough came on 12 minutes when Grayston threaded a ball through the Fulham defense for Stewart to run onto and holding off her marker and with the goalkeeper approaching, Stewart coolly slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Stewart again was played in, this time by Gadgil and once again Stewart beat the keeper in the one-on-one with the ball nestling in the back of the net.
HWFC were defending strongly from the midfield and the back line were hardly troubled as the fluid passing game of the team from North London cut through the Fulham defense every time they attacked. Grayston went close a couple of times as did Forbes and Gadgil but on 27 minutes it became 3-0 when, from an excellent corner from Green, Stewart knocked it back for Bard, who passed it to Forbes who coolly lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box, despite being surrounded by Fulham defenders at the time.
Fulham seemed unable to cope with the pressure and had still not forced Mifsud in the Hampstead goal into a save when on 41 minutes it became 4-0 when Gadgil latched on to a poor goal kick, and rounding her defender hit the ball from just outside the box and the outstretched goalkeeper could do nothing to stop it from going in.
There was time for just one more goal for Gadgil as she once again won the ball on the right hand side and turning past her marker ran into the box and coolly shot low into the far corner again giving the goalkeeper no chance. Hampstead were firing on all cylinders and when the referee blew for half time it was 5-0.
The second half started much the same as the first half with HWFC forcing three quick corners in succession. On 53 minutes a great move led to the sixth goal. Bard won the ball from a goal kick and she ran the ball forward, playing it down the line for Gadgil to run onto. Gadgil cut one way then another and crossed the ball across the face of the goal and there was Stewart running to the back post who was able to stretch out a leg to force the ball over the line.
Five minutes later on 58 minutes Bard, who was becoming more influential in the second half ran half the length of the field and as she manoeuvred herself into the area she was brought down by the Fulham full back. The ref pointed to the spot and Stewart stepped up to take the penalty. She hit it cleanly enough but it rebounded off the post, but Green’s quick thinking and follow through played the rebound across the goal for Gadgil to tap in from close range.
HWFC were running riot and it took just three more minutes before they scored again to make it 8- 0. Forbes had linked well with Green on the right hand side to force another corner and Green’s out-swinging corner found its way to Roberts just outside the box. She lined up her shot and ferociously hit the ball from a good 30-yards out. It screamed into the roof of the net for Roberts’ first League goal of the campaign and HWFC had taken a stranglehold on the game.
Three more quick attacks and Fulham were looking dazed. Stewart scored another poachers goal in the six-yard box, and Gadgil bagged two more before Bard struck a beauty from the edge of the area that found its way into the top corner.
At full time it was 12–0 and HWFC had leaped to second place in the table with two games to go, and had improved their impressive goal difference to a staggering +44.
HWFC coach Brad Solomon said after the game: “Goal difference was always going to be critical to our promotion campaign this season and scoring so many is a massive step towards achieving our goal of promotion in only our second season.
The team worked hard for each other, and were clinical in their finishing. Meilmann, playing her first full game in midfield showed us how good she could become and Bard was excellent as a flying left back. Gadgil and Stewart were linking well all game and nine goals between them shows just how successful that partnership is.
“This team is full of confidence and believe they can win promotion – if we continue to put in performances like that, then we will secure a top two spot and go up at the end of the year. I’m proud of the style of football we played today- a fluid, passing game that led to a hatful of goals. Everyone at the club is very happy.”
HWFC’S NEXT MATCH IS ON SUNDAY APRIL 1ST AWAY TO TOTTENHAM RESERVES IN THE 5TH ROUND OF THE LEAGUE CUP
TEAM: MIFSUD, ROBERTS, BERKS ©, BENJAMIN, BARD, GREEN, GRAYSTON, MEILMANN, GADGIL, STEWART, FORBES
NO SUBS USED
PLAYER OF THE MATCH:
STEWART
