Results

Newhaven Ladies 7-0 Montpelier Villa Women (HT 4-0)

Newhaven Ladies kicked off 2018 in style as they coasted to another victory to maintain their 100% start to the season.

The league’s top scorer Chloe Winchester scored a hat-trick and there was one a piece for Katie Franks, Georgia Ungoed, Lauren Smith and Paige Ripley.

Newhaven actually took nearly half an hour to score the first goal but had many glorious chances before that.

Winchester could have opened the scoring in the first few minutes when she found space in the box but her shot was well saved by the Montpelier keeper. Lucy Collinson had the next chance in the first five minutes when Lauren Smith set her up but the shot was wide.

Winchester then had another chance when she latched onto a ball over the top by Chelsea Cook but again the shot was straight at the keeper. Collinson then nearly got on the end of a deep cross from Smith but instead got clattered by the keeper and had to be replaced by Paige Ripley.

Georgia Ungoed then went on a fantastic run after picking the ball up just inside the Montpelier half and as she skipped past three challenges, exchanged passes with Winchester but the final shot was saved down low to the left.

Finally the breakthrough came when Smith raced onto a pass from Jade Harker and sent in another long cross which the keeper could only parry and there was Katie Franks to score into an empty net (1-0).

The second soon followed when a great team move involving Ellie Coade, Ripley, Winchester and then Ungoed finished off in style to make it 2-0.

Newhaven were in total command now and the third came when Ripley played the ball in the left channel for Smith to run onto and she crashed a shot into the roof of the net and make it 3-0.

Winchester finally got on the score sheet just before half time when Franks had a shot which bounced up off a defender and as the keeper came out Winchester lobbed it perfectly over her head and into the back of the net to make it four.

The defence were rarely troubled in the first half with Char Lloyd and Jas Godden stopping every attack and full backs Cook and Harker getting forward and supporting Franks and Smith on the wings. The back four were so solid they kept the amount of touches goalkeeper Hannah Paul had to make to a minimum.

At half time Rachel Hamlet replaced Franks and Collinson came back on for Ungoed.

The second half continued in exactly the same fashion with the Dockers continually on the attack. Smith kept getting past the full back and delivered a great cross for Winchester but her shot was saved by the imposing keeper. Smith then again raced through down the left and when it looked like she was about to shoot and score the defender got back with a last ditch tackle.

Collinson then had a shot from the edge of the area which again the keeper saved well and this was followed by a great team move. Smith was again the provider as she was played in by Coade, her cross fell to Winchester who just missed as it was blocked and as it came back to Ripley she just shot wide.

There were three further substitutions as Paige Bashford-Robertson, Ellie O’Brien and Maya Tedeschini replaced Cook, Godden and Harker and Bashford-Robertson made an immediate impact when she intercepted a Montpelier breakaway and passed to Ripley who turned and played in Winchester who made no mistake this time scoring in the far corner (5-0).

Ripley then found herself free on the left and she skipped past two challenges and shot into the bottom corner which the keeper did well to save but as it bounced back to Winchester she unselfishly squared to Ripley who slotted in the bottom corner to make it 6-0.

The 7th and final goal came from Smith’s corner which found its way to Winchester who made no mistake to complete her hat-trick.

One last chance came for Hamlet as Ripley played her in but the keeper came out and just got there first.

It was a very convincing win and joint manager Alex Ladd was very complimentary of the team. “Before kick off today we were aware that Montpelier were on a good run,” said Ladd. “They have not conceded too many and equally have scored goals as well.

“We wanted the ladies to go out and put in a good performance to start the new year with. They did exactly that. Everything we spoke about beforehand they did and did very well.

“We pressed all over the pitch, recycled the ball and broke with purpose. They were patient and did not get frustrated and the quality football reaped the rewards as the game went on.

“Defensively we looked great and the midfield worked as hard as ever. Our wingers provided the ammunition and we were composed in front of goal. Two of the goals were superb with intricate passing capped off with clinical finishes.

“Well done to everyone involved. It was great to see the subs coming on and impacting the game.”

Joint Manager Andy Cook was equally pleased, adding: “We expected a tough game today against a good side especially with the conditions not being great – strong wind and a soft pitch.

“However we absolutely dominated from the first minute to the last. We were brilliant going forward and at the back we didn’t give them even half a chance. The midfield totally controlled the game and although we scored seven we could have scored a lot more.

“Credit to the Montpelier keeper who played very well. We were first to the ball all over the pitch and if we did ever lose it we just worked really hard and got it back straight away. Some of the football we played was fantastic.

“So we keep this unbelievable run going and we look forward to the next game away at Rustington next week.”

Newhaven: Hannah Paul, Chelsea Cook, Jade Harker, Ellie Coade (c), Char Lloyd, Jas Godden, Katie Franks, Lucy Collinson, Chloe Winchester, Georgia Ungoed, Lauren Smith. Subs: Rachel Hamlet, Paige Ripley, Paige Bashford-Robertson, Ellie O’Brien, Maya Tedeschini.