Windsor Ladies tighten grip on title with Abingdon win
Windsor Ladies 1sts drubbed struggling Abingdon Ladies 1sts 5-0 at the weekend to strengthen their hopes of promotion.
The top of the table side took control from the early stages and it wasn’t long before Nicole McKersie took advantage of that intensity and pace, slotting home the first at the far post.
A clean finish from Ellen Taylor from a penalty corner made it 2-0 and the game was put to bed by the hosts just before half-time when Helen Edwards weaved her way through the Abingdon defence and her flamboyant reverse strike was helped over the line by Mel Van Huffel.
A string of short corners in the second half came to nothing for Windsor before their captain Freya Hayter found her way through some dogged defence to flick home the side’s fourth.
A signature run and flicked finish from Hayter then rounded off an emphatic 5-0 win for the hosts.
On Saturday the side will put their Division 1 promotion credentials to the test at fourth placed Oxford University Ladies 3rds.
In Division 3 the Windsor
Ladies 2nds came up just short after a determined second half display away to Oxford Hawks Ladies 6ths.
The Hawks took the lead against the run of play following a goal-mouth scramble. Throughout the first half the visitors looked the more likely scorers but were thwarted in the D. The Hawks then swooped to score their second, keeper Ruki Sayid turning the ball away only to see the striker force home the rebound.
However, Windsor came out fighting after the interval and their efforts were rewarded when Emma Williams crossed for Faye Kerr to drill the ball home. Windsor flung everything they had at their hosts in the closing stages but couldn’t break down a wall of maroon and black shirts.
On Saturday they visit second placed Amersham & Chalfont Ladies 4ths.
Ali Parkes bagged another brace for Windsor Men’s 1sts but they were beaten 4-3 away at Oxford Men’s 3rds. Frank Schuddemat was also on the scoresheet for the visitors. On Saturday they’ll host Wallingford Men’s 2nds.
The men’s 2nd team were
2-1 winners over Oxford Brookes University Men’s
5ths at home in Division 5.