Hannah and Mary on target

NEWBURY & Thatcham Ladies 2nd recorded a 2-0 away win at Oxford Hawks 5th in North Division 3 of the South Central League.

Both Hannah Jones and Mary Cavanagh were on target in the win as they end 2021 with a win.

Meanwhile, the Ladies 3rd team fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Reading Riots in Thames Division 1.

Both teams came out fighting from the start and the ball was quickly moved up and down the pitch with great linking passes between the defence and the attack.

Reading were marking tightly which meant Newbury had to play fast and smart.

Just before half-time, Newbury managed to grab a short corner which, after a few rebounds off the goalie, was put neatly in the goal by Neive Murray.

After half-time, the fierce battle continued and both teams upped their intensity working the ball quickly up and down the pitch.

Newbury made some wonderful passes between the midfield and forward line and the defence worked tirelessly clearing the ball away.

But Reading equalised with a goal from a short corner.

After several attempts on goal from both teams and the clock ticking down, Reading managed to grab a second goal and seal the points.

Newbury had several more attempts on goal and some beautiful work on and off the ball, but they ran out of time.

Elsewhere, Rhian Simm scored for Newbury 4th as they drew 1-1 with South Berkshire 4th, while the Ladies 5th team lost 3-2 at home to Wallingford 5th.

The fifth side dominated play with some great movement in the midfield by Jo Bathe, Niamh McGrath and Jennie Denton pushing up to the forward line of Polly Cranfield, Rachel Richardson and Megan Mantle with a few shots on goal being denied by the Wallingford GK.

Wallingford turned play around and after a few saves by Newbury’s GK, they scored twice and to take control.

A good move involving action by Newbury defenders Jules Hornby, Tracy Sweeney and Chloe Hornby saw the ball up past the Wallingford press, to centre forward Rachel Richardson, who passed to Polly Cranfield and she evaded the Wallingford keeper score.

The second half saw Wallingford scoring from a short corner, but Newbury continued to press.

A shot on goal by Cranfield was stopped and held on the line by a Wallingford defender and a penalty flick was awarded. Stepping up to the spot, Jules Hornby kept her cool and executed the flick with precision into the top left corner of the goal.