The South West Counties Women’s U18s Competition saw Hampshire beat Gloucestershireby 5 goals to nil. Hampshire recorded their third win of the Season and now lead the Group with a 100% record. Peter T McPherson reports…..
The game was played at a fast pace, each side playing a good passing game and creating many chances to score however Hampshire took and early lead after 5 minutes when Lucy Quinn (Portsmouth LFC) lobbed the ball from outside the penalty area on the left beating the Gloucestershire goalkeeper Abby Morrissey (Stoke Lane) the ball entering high up inside the far post.
Hampshire went further ahead after 30 minutes when Gemma Simmonds (Southampton Saints) burst through the middle beating the advancing Gloucestershire keeper Morrissey to place the ball into the empty net to give the away side a 2-0 lead.
Hampshire went 3-0 up just before half time when Abby Picton picked up a ball from a Hampshire corner on the right and sent in a low shot to find the corner of the net with Morrissey beaten.
Play in the second half was of a high standard with both sides continuing to play end to end attractive football whilst Gloucestershire created a number of chances, they were unable to beat debutant goalkeeper Lavina Nkoma (Hampshire F A Centre of Excellence) who was in fine form keeping the home side's forwards at bay.
Gemma Simmonds scored a second goal on 57 minutes to put Hampshire 4-0 in the lead scoring from close range. Then in the closing minutes Chloe Ranger (Havant & Waterloovile) scored Hampshire's 5th goal from close range following a good run down the right.
During the match Megan Bloomer suffered an unfortunate injury during the second half which required her to be taken hospital by ambulance. On behalf of the GFA and everybody involved in the County Rep Women’s teams we would like to extend our wishes for a full and speedy recovery.