Berks County Women v Windsor & Eton Women
TVCWFL Division Three South
Just a short walk to Bracknell Sports Centre for this one, it’s so nice not to have bus and train headaches when going to a game every now and again! Today’s game also promised to be a belter.
Before the game Windsor & Eton were sitting proudly on top of the table but only on goal difference from AFC Reading. Berks County in fourth but they have the distinction of being the only side to have taken three points from their visitors this season, winning 6-5 in a thriller at Stag Meadow in October. The visitors were looking to avenge that reversal, and warmed up for this game scoring seven times away at Sandhurst Wolves in a 7-2 win in their last league match.
As you would expect from two good sides in the upper reaches of the table, it was a fast and furious start. Berks County had the first chance, a long ball towards the box was flicked on to Mya Denny. She advanced into the box and under pressure from Rebecca Stewart forced a save from Tabitha Gafencu in the Windsor goal, the ball rebounded to Freya Johnson but her snapshot could only find the side netting.
The visitors took an early lead minutes later, Emma Hester won a battle in midfield and laid on a pass that cut through the home defence, picking out the run of Emma Donovan and she fired into the roof of the net. 0-1
The home side responded and a long Kiah Owen ball down the left flank found Johnson in space. She shifted the ball nicely onto her right foot and got a shot away which was well blocked by Stewart.
Nice link up play down the left between Donovan and Laura McGregor led to Windsor winning a corner. Rachel Wallace swung the resulting set piece in towards the goal only to see Owen head the ball off the line and away to safety.
The Royalists doubled their lead shortly after. Good pressing play led to Windsor winning the ball back high, Donovan raced into the area before passing to McGregor and she calmly stroked the ball past Jasmine Voskova-Matsell in the County goal. 0-2
Windsor were now well on top and won another corner, Wallace pulling the ball back to an unmarked Lauren Fallon only to see Voskova-Matsell save well.
Berks County rallied and soon halved the deficit. Owen again with a nice ball over the top this time for Olivia Aluko to run onto, she knocked it past the advancing Gafencu but wide. Regaining the ball on the byline Aluko played the ball across the six-yard box where Denny running in just managed to get a touch before the defender to stab it in. 1-2
The hosts now sensed they were on top and should have levelled moments later. A good run and pass from Denny found Johnson who struck a first time shot which Gafencu parried up into the air with Aluko steaming in at the far post, but she got underneath it and put it over from a yard out with the goal gaping. Johnson had the next chance but slid her shot just wide of the far post.
This seemed to spark Windsor back into life. Donovan again finding space in the area only to see her shot blocked by Voskova-Matsell, the visitors recycled the ball well and the County keeper was on hand to save at point blank range from McGregor, the rebound was again picked up by Windsor and crossed to the far post where it was put into the net only for the referee to blow for offside and disallow the goal.
The visitors were finishing the half strongly and it was deja vu moments later with Donovan again walking through the static defence, her shot was again saved by Voskova-Matsell only for McGregor to slide the rebound in at the far post. 1-3
A minute later Windsor had four, Donovan picking up a through ball and shooting to the near post, Voskova-Matsell deflected it onto the post and it dribbled along the line before finally going over. 1-4
There was still time for another Donovan effort on goal as she ran on to another ball over the top and tried to curl it into the opposite corner but it just drifted the wrong side of the post.
H-T: Berks County 1 Windsor & Eton 4
Berks County made some adjustments at half time to try to stem the amount of possession Windsor were getting in the midfield and this made for a much more even start to the second half.
Windsor thought they’d scored again when Donovan hit a shot from the edge of the box which beat Voskova-Matsell but it hit the far post and rolled back into the keepers arms.
Berks County reduced the arrears when Joohnson found Aluko in the area and she fired past Gafencu for their second of the match. 2-4
Now the hosts tails were up and a Lauren Turk pass through the Windsor defence was chased down by Aluko, she pulled the ball across the six-yard box but, under pressure from the defender, Johnson could only get the slightest touch and the ball ran away across the goalmouth.
Johnson had another chance moments later, picking up an Owen pass and running towards the goal she beat Gafencu but her shot drifted just wide of the far post.
As was the case earlier in the match, just as the hosts were building up a head of steam, the visitors grabbed a goal and this one was a belter. Tackles were flying in on the right side of midfield and ended with Rachel Wallace blocking a clearance before launching a shot from fully 40 yards out, over Voskova-Matsell, and into the roof of the net. 2-5.
County bounced straight back with Aluko picking up the ball inside the box and sidefooting it past Gafencu. 3-5
Right at the death the visitors grabbed their sixth. Stevie Romney passing on to Emma Hester who in turn played the ball through the defence to Donovan. She cut back inside and fired into the roof of the net off the underside of the crossbar to give her a well deserved hat-trick. 3-6
F-T: Berks County 3 Windsor & Eton 6
The two sides went toe to toe in a very entertaining game. Nine goals and it could well have been double that with both sides missing a whole host of chances. Windsor always managed to find a goal just as Berks County were in the ascendancy and, with two quick goals just before half time, the home side were always facing an uphill battle to get back into the match.
It was a great advertisement for women’s football at this level and I wish all the best to both sides for the remainder of the season.