Ladies’ football: City’s winning run goes on at Maidenhead

Another away win kept Chichester City Ladies’ fine run of form going - while the development squad battled well but lost 4-0 to Pompey.
Chichester City Ladies teamChichester City Ladies team
Chichester City Ladies team

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Maidenhead Ladies 1 Chichester City Ladies 2

Goals by Chloe Dowdell and Jade Widdows saw Chichester continue their fine form.

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Having been promoted, Maidenhead had made a reasonable start to their first campaign with three wins and four defeats.

The game started in frantic fashion with neither team able to produce much quality on the ball, but both were working hard to close down space and frustrate each other in possession.

Chichester created the better of the openings with Tammy Waine twice finding players in the box from the right hand side. First Jenna Fowlie headed agonisingly over the bar then Kerrie Ryan couldn’t direct her shot away from the keeper. Further chances for Becky Barron and Amy Found narrowly missed the target.

Maidenhead looked dangerous on the break with direct balls over the top for their pacy strikers to try and latch on to. It was Chichester who broke the deadlock when a clearance from a corner fell to Dowdell who volleyed the ball into the bottom corner via a slight deflection to give the visitors a deserved lead.

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At the break Chichester were one goal to the good but this was never going to be enough in a tight contest.

The second half started much as the first ended. The difference in the half was that Chichester were now moving the ball quicker and maintaining possession with more confidence.

It was Maidenhead, however, who scored next, bringing the game back to level terms. The goal came when a long-range free-kick caused confusion in the box and after Sally-Anne Thompson saved the initial effort, a striker was there to tap in the follow up.

After the goal the game was played mainly in the Maidenhead half but a combination of great defensive organisation and poor finishing meant Chichester looked as if they’d be going home with a share of the points.

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That was until the 92nd minute when substitute Widdows cut in from the left-hand side and unleashed a low and accurate drive to the far post. The strike beat the keeper, causing wild celebrations from the Green Army.

Chichester are away again this week in the Women’s FA Cup, facing AEK Boco (1pm).

Chi City Dev Squad 0 Pompey Ladies Res 4

Pompey had to fight for this win as a Chichester side with Sian Payne, Steph Mills and Zoe Hughes-Jones back involved battled to the end.

Mills looked a constant threat down the right, linking up well with Rebekah Allen.

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Galway made a variety of saves and Chichester looked dangerous from a couple of free kicks as Hughes-Jones delivered two balls into the box, both times almost allowing Gemma Halford to get on the end of them.

Following a strong run down the right, Mills delivered a cross into the box towards Allen, but it was cleared.

The second half saw Allen look a constant threat up top and Payne enjoying her free role, working hard in attack and defence.

Ellis was set through on goal but her shot was wide.

After a strong second half, five minutes proved Chichester’s downfall, with Pompey scoring four goals in those minutes from a variety of set-plays.

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The development squad host QPR at Clymping this Sunday (2pm).

CHIO DEV SQUAD: Galway; Clarke, Halford, Steed, Hughes-Jones; Mills, Pallant, Prince, Beaven; Payne, Allen; Ellis, Cottam Verbruggen, Bailey, Cain.

Chichester’s girls’ under-15s played well away to Ringmer Rovers but lost 2-0.

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