Hampstead Women In Garston Win
FA Greater London League Division II
Hampstead Women’s Football Club 2 Garston FC 1
Sunday, 11 November, 2007
Having soaked up a lot of pressure from the visiting team HWFC slowly found their rhythm and started to put some passes together but it was still the team from Garston who had most of the pressure. The away team wasted three good chances from corners and Mifsud was on hand again in the 23rd minute to save HWFC when she was able to clear from a blistering shot from the Garston forward.
HWFC did create their own chances – the best falling to Freeman on the half hour. After some good work from Bassin in the middle of the park, Gadgil broke free on the left wing, sneaking the ball past her defender to the bye line before drilling the ball into the penalty area. Freeman controlled the ball on the turn and her half volley shaved the post. Sadly though this was the last chance for HWFC in the first half and it was Garston who took the lead in the 35th minute after some poor defending from the home team. Breaking down the right hand side of the pitch the Garston winger outpaced two defenders and her cross was met on the six yard box by her colleague who slotted the ball home past the outstretched Mifsud.
HWFC came out stronger after the break having ironed out the problems of the first half. The defending was tighter and the midfield were back in full flow with Basin and Bard controlling the game from the middle of the park and Chastanet, Berks, Lewis and Roberts cleaning up the back lines in a far more assured way then they did in the first half. Chances were being created too and Forbes was unlucky not to score when her shot from just inside the penalty area hit the bar. The equaliser came on 53 minutes after two successive corners. Kate Freeman’s third corner was swinging into the near post when the Garston defender in trying to clear the ball directed it into her own net.
This was the sign for HWFC to pile on the pressure and in the next fifteen minutes the game seemed encamped in the Garston half. Gadgil’s pace terrorised the Garston defenders and the tackling from the back line was strong and brave. The winning goal was scored by Meroulla Lazarou on 72 minutes. A quick goal kick was helped on by Bassin and then Freeman who cleverly back headed the ball over her marker into the path of Lazarou. With a deft controlling touch to take the ball away from her own marker Lazarou coolly lifted the ball over the advancing Garston keeper from the edge of the box and the match was won.
There was still time for a couple more chances - the best falling to Claire Jones (on as a sub) but she failed to connect properly with her shot and Garston cleared their lines.
The ref blew for full time after four minutes of injury time and three points were secured again, making it two wins and a draw in their last two matches.
Manager Brad Solomon said after the game: “I was delighted with the way his team had fought back after going one nil down. To win this game shows how well this team are starting to gel this season. They fought for each other and created a lot of chances in the second half. This was a big win for Hampstead”
Next weeks match is away against bottom of the table Barnet FC
Team:
MIFSUD, CHASTANET, BERKS, LEWIS, ROBERTS ©, FORBES (61), BARD, BASSIN, GADGIL, FREEMAN (75), LAZAROU (83)
SUBS: JONES (61), MINTER GREEN (75), MARCUS (83)
PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH:
LAZAROU
