United make Fleet work of Town

A comfortable win for United who brought Fleet Town’s three game winning streak to an end and in doing so recorded their first win of the season an remain unbeaten in the league.

Showing increasing greater confidence on the ball, Woodley were positive from the kick off once and with Ellen Surtees starting on the left flank had two wingers in her and Mollie Haines who were able to get at the defence. With May Hamblin leading the attack well ably supported by Rosie Page-Smith United were a threat going forward.

Notwithstanding having forced a number of corners and seen Fleet keeper Rebecca Williamson stop a Surtees effort with her legs it was not until the twenty fifth minute that the deadlock was broken. Good play in midfield saw Hamblin pass to Haines whose low cross from the right edge of the penalty area found Surtees unmarked at the far post to steer the ball pass the diving Williamson.

Fleet rallied but with Holly Wilkins having a greater influence in United’s defence and Sophie Ali assured at right back, Bonnie Messitt was rarely troubled.

With the game one minute into stoppage time the lead was doubled when Haines, now on the left wing beat the full back and saw her shot go over Williamson and under the cross bar.

The second half saw United frustrate Fleet by moving the ball well and keeping possession with the result a number of free kicks were conceded by the opposition and saw them receive a couple of yellow cards.

It was from one free kick, following a foul on Page-Smith, that she took that Haines headed her second goal on seventy four minutes.

Surtees complete the scoring for the home team five minutes from time when Becky Lowes sealed a fine second half debut with another low cross for the right that saw Surtees score an identical goal to her first.

The home team momentarily lost concentration that resulted in Messitt making the save of the match but in parring the ball it fell lose to the unmarked Suzanne Darling to fire home a minute later. However, with Fleet not troubling the home goal again the three points were won.

Next up is a trip next Sunday in the league to Alton.