Martin his four as Ladies open with 11-goal thriller

CHELTENHAM Town Ladies opened their FA Women’s National League South West Division One season with a pulsating 7-4 success over Brislington.

The game got off to a flying start with three goals in five minutes as Cheltenham struck first with the first attack of the game.

The tireless work of Annie Martin was rewarded as her closing down of the Brislington goalkeeper resulted in a clearance falling into the net.

It didn’t take long for the home side to level as a long ball was collected by Baber and delivered expertly for Sawyer to tuck home.

One quickly became two for the home side on five minutes when another ball to Baber was delivered to Sawyer, who this time placed a looping a shot over Bingham in Cheltenham’s goal.

The second half started like the first with Cheltenham scoring inside 30 seconds of the restart when a long ball by Fensome was capitalised on by Hitchcox, who looped a strike over the keeper.

Cheltenham’s confidence was growing and they led when a through ball by Lauren Ellis was finished by Martin.

But the home team showed their resolve to score the equaliser.

A hopeful looking ball by Brislington turned the Cheltenham defence and Sawyer was able to capitalise on indecision to knock the ball and deliver a cross for a tap in on the far post.

On 72 minutes, Martin completed her hat trick with another one on one and the following attack brought a fifth three minutes later as Martin’s set back for Sophie Wyatt was perfect as the midfielder lifted the ball over the keeper.

Wyatt’s introduction gave a balance to Cheltenham in midfield and her and Briscoe were to combine to release Martin to score number four for her personally and Cheltenham’s sixth.

Brislington were able to score again as poor defending by Cheltenham resulted in an own goal.

Goal number seven for Cheltenham came with the final passage of the game following a Brislington attack as superb counter when a ball by Fensome released Briscoe who in turn beat two players and fired in.

Manager Alex Cheal said: ‘What a game for the neutral. Ultimately I am happy to have got a win on the opening day of the season.

“This is a tough place to come to at any point in the season so to have come here already and got three points is important.

“Today has highlighted that we have a lot to work on but when you put into context that it’s the first time we have played that back four.

“We know we can score goals this year so we need to tighten up defensively now but as we get a settled side we will improve.”