Ladies pass their Uni test

Playing their first game in four weeks and only the third since mid-December, understandably United were rusty and lacking sharpness and it was not until ten player Mansfield Rd had levelled the scores early in the second half that Woodley started to play with purpose and confidence.

Having said that the hosts had not posed a threat for the visitors until first half stoppage time as Woodley were patient in their play, attempted to use the wings and forced a number of corners. However, too often there was a reluctance to shoot first time at goal and passes failed to find their target.

A tactical change midway through the first half moving Ellen Surtees to left midfield gave United a greater potent threat with her positive running at the.

The opening goal on the half hour was a drive from twenty yards by Rosie Page-Smith over the home keeper Zipora Carapeto following lead up play involving Louise Thompson and Surtees. Surtees was involved in the second goal fifteen minutes later when her cross evaded Bonnie Messitt at the first attempt but with Woodley keeping the ball alive in Mansfield’s penalty area, Messitt fired home from close range.

United then switched off allowing Holly Bridge to hit the cross bar before breaking free of the visitors defence five minutes into stoppage time to pull a goal back for the University team.

Encouraged by the goal Mansfield Road started the second half strongly with Bridge again out running the defence but failing to level when one on one with Emily Sherwood before she again broke free of the United back four to pass to Lucie Bowden to level on forty seven minutes with her eleventh goal of the season.

United weathered the storm of Mansfield pressure and again stated to use the width of the pitch to good effect as they stretched the tiring hosts. The lead was regained on sixty one minutes with Page-Smith converting a penalty following a foul on Mollie Haines. Substitute Nicole Haines was denied by Carapeto before Page-Smith completed her hat trick with seventeen minutes remaining. Sherwood’s goal kick to Mollie Haines was passed to Page-Smith to run at the defence and score.

An outstanding save by Sherwood from the lively Bridge five minutes later preserved United’s two goal lead before Surtees capped a good performance with a solo run and goal ten minutes from full time.

The win lifts the team to sixth in the division with the two teams playing one another again this coming Sunday at Henley Town FC.