Flyers late comeback show!

United saw their chance of returning to the top of the league table dashed when Flyers scored twice in the last seven minutes of the game, with the equaliser coming two minutes into stoppage time.

The opening quarter of a hour was end to end football with Woodley twice forcing Winchester’s Lauren Higgs to smother balls from the oncoming Rosie Page-Smith and shortly afterwards Jodie Penny while Bryone Morell forced a save from United’s Nicole Haines who was to have her best match of the season in making a number of crucial saves especially with the team two goals ahead.

Woodley’s free kicks into the penalty area test the visitors defence while in the half Francesca Thornton fired over the home cross bar and Haines denied Sophie Bamworth in a one on one to leave the match goalless at half time.

The second half got off to the best possible start when Page-Smith split the defence to shoot straight at Higgs but four minutes into the half with players shouting for a hand ball in the penalty area Penny reacted quickest to hit the back of the net via a deflection to open scoring.

Higgs was then called upon to parry a shot from Maddie Sawyer while the cross bar denied Page-Smith with Amie Benton putting the rebound over the bar.

Hannah Chaffey went on a good run before Haines forced the forward to shot wide as City struggled to get a foothold in the game.

The hosts extended their lead in the sixty ninth minute when Sawyer’s cross was met by substitute Laura Harris-Steers to head pass Higgs from within the penalty area.

The game then became lengthen with Chaffey seeing more of the ball and being forced to shoot wide following good defending from by Holly Wilkins on seventy minutes which was followed two minutes later with Haines using her feet to block a shot.

Sawyer fired over from distance while Alice Cooke was required to defend well as game entered the final ten minutes.

With four minutes of normal time remaining Charlotte Warhurst converted a penalty to set up a barn storming finish which saw Chaffey level with a fine run and shot pass Haines.

Haines, Preston-Morris, Wilkins (Hunt), Thompson (Evans), Surtees, Ward, Penny (Lambourne), Pearson (Cooke), Page-Smith, Sawyer, Benton (Harris-Steers)