by Phil Cummings
North East Regional Womens Football League Northern Division
Sunday 8th September 2024
Chester-le-Street United Women 3 v Wallsend B.C. Women Reserves
Chester le Street Women got their NERFWL season off to a winning start with 3 - 2 home win against a good Wallsend BC Reserves side on Sunday.
Despite having much of the better first half United found themselves 2 - 0 down at half time. The goals conceded were preventable but a combination of some poor finishing and some outstanding goalkeeping meant United failed to notch before the break and went into half time behind.
United upped their game in the second half, the move of Ruby Oxburgh to midfield probably the catalyst for an improved performance as she drove United forward at every opportunity along with some fresh legs in midfield.
United did finally score via the penalty spot - a stonewaller but still avidly contested by Wallsend! Lucy Bowman, the player who spurned so many chances in the 1st half, stepped up to confidently smash home the spot kick mid-way through the first half.
The game changed with goal and importantly Bowman grew in confidence and around 10 minutes after her first she grabbed her second - out muscling the defender to break into the box she fired home with brilliant shot into the far corner. 2 - 2!
At this point it looked like United’s to win, and so it proved just moments later, Bowman again breaking inside the box and slotting the ball into the bottom corner with ease. A superb second half hat-trick from a player who never gave their back line a moments peace.
United played out the rest of the game quite comfortably and probably could and should have grabbed a 4th to finish it off.
It wasn't to be, but it was a good to start the season with the girls putting in a decent performance and putting 3pts on the board. More to come from this team too I suspect as they grow under the watchful eyes of Coaches Craig Bewick & Mark Goldsborough.
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