Clere edged out in eightgoal thriller

KINGSCLERE went down 5-3 to TVCWFL Division 1 side Caversham United, despite another good performance.

Kingsclere got off to the best possible start when in the third minute Courtney Hance got free down the right before cutting the ball back to Amy Little who struck her first time effort across the goalkeeper and into the far bottom corner of the net.

Caversham were level soon after though when a mix-up at the back allowed the Caversham striker in to round Hannah Sibley in the Kingsclere goal and finish into the empty net.

Clere retook the lead on 22 minutes when some great pressing saw Abi Elliott win the ball in front of the Caversham defence, before beating the last defender and placing her shot past the keeper.

But Caversham pulled level just before the break as their long shots finally paid off and their midfielder dropped an effort from range just under the crossbar.

The second half got off to a bad start for Kingsclere and they were behind within minutes when a gap opened up down the middle of the pitch for a Caversham midfielder to run into and score.

Things got worse soon after when Kingsclere lost the ball playing out from the back and the Caversham striker was played in on goal to score at the second attempt after Sibley had saved brilliantly the first time around.

But Kingsclere kept playing their game and were rewarded when some good hold-up play on the edge of the box by Little saw her lay the ball off to Carly Duckett just outside the box and she bent her effort superbly into the bottom corner of the net.

A stunning strike from range saw Caversham regain their twogoal lead after the ball fell kindly for their midfielder after a 50/50 challenge on the edge of the box and it finished 5-3.