Penny drops for victory

WOODLEY UNITED LADIES began life in the Southern Region Premier Division with a 3-2 victory at New Milton Town.

Newly-promoted Kestrels got off to a nightmare start with Clara Stringer withdrawing injured in the warm-up before Sophie Measham was forced off after just three minutes.

But Marc Surtees’ side did not let the setbacks affect them, taking the lead on 13 minutes when substitute Sarah Thompson fired in off the underside of the crossbar.

Jodie Penny doubled the advantage, but the hosts halved the deficit before half-time as Rebecca Ingram found the top corner.

Penny hit the crossbar soon after the restart, but New Milton levelled on the counter-attack through Caitlin Steele.

But back came Woodley, moving 3-2 up when Rosie Page-Smith converted from the penalty spot on 63 minutes having been fouled herself in the box and that proved to be the winning goal. WOODLEY: Haines, Wilkins, Measham, Sawyer, Pearson, Surtees, Page-Smith, Penny, Evans, Master, Hamblin. Subs: Stringer, Thompson, Ward.

In Division 1 South,

WARGRAVE LADIES lost 3-0 at home to Abingdon United while WOKINGHAM AND EMMBROOK were thrashed 8-0 at Moneyfields with Kimberley Stenning bagging a hat-trick.

Over in the Thames Valley Counties Leagues, EVERSLEY AND CALIFORNIA lost 4-2 at Tilehurst Panthers in Division 1 despite goals from Karen Hoare and Megan Averill, while Reesh Lewis’ strike could not prevent a 3-1 defeat for BINFIELD LADIES at Hawley.