Shanklin Ladies had an emphatic win over Stoneham on Sunday to go 2nd in Hampshire Division 1.
Up against a young and enthusiastic side, Shanklin found it hard in the early exchanges to find their rhythm with the home team restricting the visitors to a handful of chances.
The first 20 minutes saw both sides evenly matched until the quick feet of Daniela Meininkaite created herself a yard of space to set up Faith Wagstaff, who struck a wonderful shot from 20 yards into the top right corner (0-1).
At the other end of the pitch, AFC Stoneham carried a threat and were denied by Kirren Shaw, who kept her team in front with a superb one-on-one save, tipping the ball round the post.
Wanting to gain a stronger foothold in the game, Shanklin turned to their subs bench and brought on Freya Henry, whose introduction upfront had an instant impact, swinging the game firmly in Shanklin’s favour. Henry’s first touch was a bullet header from a Tilly Yardley corner which came off the inside of the post, went across the goal line and was eventually scrambled away.
Minutes later, a well worked set piece from a Shanklin throw again saw Henry influencing play with a defence splitting pass to Thea Broadhead, who calmly slotted it past the advancing keeper (0-2).
Half time: AFC Stoneham Reserves 0-2 Shanklin Ladies
The halftime team talk sparked Shanklin into life. Within 2 minutes of the kick off, the Island side went 0-3 ahead, with Henry again at the centre of the action. Thea Broadhead repaid Henry‘s earlier assist by finding the forward in space and – with plenty of work still to do – Henry fired a long range shot from the angle over the goalie into the top corner, scoring her 1st league goal of the season.
This early setback did not see Stoneham heads drop, but they were unable to apply any sustained pressure throughout the half, and Shanklin took full control of the game. Key to this was Henry’s dominance upfront, and the pressure applied by the Shanklin midfield of Grace McDonald, Holly Stephan and Tilly Yardley, who totally bossed the half. Tilly Yardley earned herself woman-of-the-match, working tirelessly box to box putting in challenge after challenge breaking up play and then instigating many Shanklin attacks.
This woman-of-the-match performance was topped off with another excellent Shanklin goal – Yardley’s first league goal of the season. 15 minutes into the 2nd half, Shanklin introduced their youngest player and emerging talent Lola Lewis, who played a key part in Yardley’s goal. Another well worked throw in from Charlotte Glenn found Henry in space, who crossed to Lewis on the edge of the box. With her back to goal, Lewis held the ball up and – on hearing the call from Yardley – unselfishly laid the ball off for a first time strike outside the box, which Yardley rifled into the roof of the net (0-4).
Towards the end of the half, Stoneham created a few chances, but good defending from Jasmine Bavington, Mia Richardson and Rainer ‘Floss’ Griffiths stopped any thoughts of a comeback. In final minutes of the game, Stoneham broke through and – after making another great one-on-one save – Kirren Shaw was unable to keep out the rebound, and Stoneham got their consolation goal (1-4).
Full time AFC Stoneham Reserves 0-2 Shanklin Ladies
The match was officiated well by referee Jason Lee, who allowed the game to flow.
Shanklin Ladies are now level on points with Millbrook at the top of the table, with a game in hand on the Southampton-based side.
Next week, Shanklin welcome Gosport Borough to the Island in the Invitation Cup.
