Snappy dressers cut loose for 3-0 victory
DENHAM UNITED
A NEW kit and three points made for a good day for Denham Ladies under-14s on Saturday.
Wearing new togs from sponsors Howarth Homes, Denham produced a dominant display with a stunning goal from top scorer Melissa Asavoaie the highlight of a 3-0 win over Welwyn Garden City, with Lauren Clark and Ellie Wright on target. CHELSEA legend Gianfranco Zola could be the secret weapon in Hayes & Yeading’s survival bid.
The former Italy international was one of the senior pros when United’s newly-appointed jointmanager, Paul Hughes, was breaking through as a young midfielder at Stamford Bridge.
And Zola was also manager at Watford when recent United signing Ryan Hope was trying to make it as a pro at Vicarage Road.
Hope said: “I was at Watford for 11 years, and I was with the first team for a little bit, under Zola, which was an amazing experience. He’s one of the best Premier League players ever, and he really helped me with my game. The gaffer’s played along- side him a few times too, so you could say Franco’s had a bit of an influence on this side.”
While a few of Hope’s pals from his Watford days are still in the pro game, like Newport’s Jazzi BarnumBobb and Fleetwood loanee Alex Jakubiak, Hope drifted into non-league with Boreham Wood, Wealdstone, Harrow Borough and Slough Town.
He then hooked up with Hughes and the other joint-boss – Ritchie Hanlon – at Kings Langley this season, before following the duo to Hayes & Yeading.
He said: “They are really good people who know their football and I’m confident they will get us out of trouble. The boys have gelled well and training seems busy and bright. We just need to pick up points quickly.”
Hope already has experience of helping turn around seemingly lost causes, having been part of the Harrow side which came
The first XI are back to winning ways after beating Actonians Ladies 4-2 at the Den on Sunday, Lauren Cox’s double and one apiece from Helen Capewell and Jenny Banfield clinching the points, but the reserves lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace,
Maddison Perry’s double led the way for the U11 Wildcats as they beat Molesey Juniors 5-1 to make it five wins out of five – Amna Butt, Paige Hoile and Ellie Trigg were the other scorers – while the U11 Pumas back from the dead to stave off relegation from the Ryman Premier two years ago.
He said: “I was at Harrow for what became known as the Great Escape, which was a good experience, but things didn’t quite work out there in preseason so I found Hughesy and Ritchie, which I’m delighted about.
“There’s still lots of work to do, but the gaffers are top, top people who have been around and know what they’re doing. They know what they need to do. There’s lots of talent and ability in the squad, but we need to do the other bits.”
Hope scored in the first minute as United hammered fellow strugglers St Neots 5-1 on Saturday to move to within two points of escaping the Southern Premier drop zone, Josh Hutchinson hitting a hat-trick and Mitchell Weiss netting. United were due to play Chesham United last night. scored a comfortable win Ruislip Rangers.
The U10s beat Watford thanks to strikes by Scarlett Tuckwell, Tygun Hart, Liana Horwood, Keria Neill and Megan Atwell, while the U15s over were also convincing winners, with Niamh Reynolds, Georgia Knott and Rachel Strutt the girls on the mark as they beat Watford 3-0.
But the U16s were knokced out of the League Cup quarter finals 4-2 by QPR despite goals from Alketa Rragami and Claire Wiener, and the U12s crashed out 5-2 to Berkhamstead Rangers Supernovas 5-2, a Chloe Beckwith double not enough.