Saltdean United Women v Fulham FC Women
London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division
A dull start to the Easter Sunday and a journey from my base in Eastbourne to Saltdean for this match up at the top of the LSEWFL Premier League but what a journey! Taking the Coaster bus took me on probably the most scenic bus ride I’ve ever taken, through lovely little villages, onto the South Downs and the stunning scenery around Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters National Park and on to Saltdean. Without doubt the best £6 I’ve ever spent on a bus ticket!
So, I reached the stop at Saltdean Lido and took a 20 minute walk which was pretty straightforward, to arrive at the ground. A very warm welcome awaited and, with the £3 entry paid it was off to explore Hill Park, which is very well named with green hills surrounding the pitch.
A friend on Twitter, @Londonkro, had mentioned he was going to the match too and it was great to finally put a face to the name and chat all things football with him. We both headed to the food hatch where Kev had a bacon cheeseburger and I decided, on the advice of the lovely lady on the gate, to have the chicken curry pie. It was a wise decision as the pie was superb!
A quick wander around and taking the chance to grab a few photos, it was time for the match. Saltdean have been on a good run recently and were sitting in third place in the league table while Fulham were sitting one place above them. The visitors were trying to preserve their unbeaten record in the league this season and also go to the top of the league with three points here.
This was always likely to be a good game between two highflying teams and that is just the way it started, the visitors starting brightly in the first couple of minutes and the hosts looking dangerous on the break.
The first chance of note came from a long ball down the middle for Dani Lane to run onto. The Fulham keeper Frankie Gibbs backed away instead of coming out to clear, setting up a footrace between Lane and covering defender Leeta Rutherford. The latter won and she managed to clear the ball away.
Saltdean pinned Fulham back, winning a succession of throws on the left side until Olivia Dale managed to release the pressure with a good clearance. Fulham bounced back when the home side tried to play out of defence, Ellie Olds picked up a loose ball and fed the ball through to Madi Parsonson but her shot under pressure went straight into the arms of the keeper.
A lovely Jade Bradley pass inside the full back set Stella Morgan free down the left flank. A superb first touch from Morgan took her away from her marker and she pulled the ball back into the box from the byline but couldn’t find a teammate in the packed penalty area. In the next move Bradley had a shot from outside the box that whistled over the crossbar.
Another long punt over the visitors midfield found Lane again on the shoulder of the defender and this time she had a clear run at goal. Heading the ball on and with Gibbs again backing away, she lifted the ball beautifully over the retreating keeper and into the net. 1-0
Fulham came close to levelling before half time following a nice passing move Morgan hit a shot from distance which was blocked by a defender with Bradley picking up the loose ball and firing a first time shot but it just went wide of the post.
H-T: Saltdean United 1 Fulham 0
Fulham started the second half very much on top with the hosts barely being able to get out of their own half early on. An Olds cross found the head of Parsonson but her effort was comfortably saved by the Saltdean keeper Faye Baker.
In the 54th minute Fulham grabbed an equaliser. A corner won on the right was swung out towards the far post where it was headed back into the six yard box and somehow managed to get through three defenders legs and creep into the net. 1-1
From a long throw on the right from Parsonson into the box, the home defence again struggled to clear with the ball falling to Morgan who tried a snapshot on the turn which was saved by the unsighted Baker and finally cleared.
Fulham were pressing for the winner a Stevens shot went just wide of the post before the home side conceded another goal they’d rather forget. From a Saltdean goal kick the ball rebounded off one of their own defenders on the edge of the box, Kayleigh Stead reacted quickly, firing a shot goalwards which Baker managed to parry away only for Morgan to follow up and knock the ball into the empty net. 1-2
Saltdean tried to respond but they couldn’t keep hold of the ball and found it keep coming back at them. Another long throw from Parsonson found the head of Olds but she could only direct it into the side netting.
Fulham ended the match pressing their hosts back and not giving them a chance to break. The referee brought proceedings to a close after several minutes added time to set off celebrations from the visiting team and give Fulham the three points and maintain their unbeaten run this season.
F-T: Saltdean United 1 Fulham 2
A hard-fought game between two good sides with both leaving everything on the pitch. Saltdean gave everything but just came up short and will rue the two defensive mistakes that cost them the game. Dani Lane whose play with her back to goal and touches to bring the midfield into play had a good game and her goal was beautifully taken. Georgia Bridges did well in midfield too winning a lot of 50/50 balls.
Fulham look a good side and play some lovely passing football. Ellie Olds impressed, she never gave the Saltdean defence a moments peace and contested everything. Madi Parsonson’s long throw is a real weapon and they look a very good all-round side. They moved to the top of the table with this win and only need one more win from their remaining games to take the title.
It was also good to get the opportunity to catch up with Lucy Clark, the Sutton United Women manager after the game.
Thanks to everyone at Saltdean for their welcome and hospitality on the day and wish the best of luck to both clubs in the future, I’m sure this won’t be the last time our paths will cross!
All that was left then was another stunning bus journey back…