Chris Cooper’s Hawks travelled to Farnborough to take on Rushmore Community to keep their unbeaten run in the league, Havant & Waterlooville kept at the top after their win against Abbey Rangers.
First Half:
The Hawks began the first half on the back foot after being forced into an early substitution with Liz Morgan coming off inside the first 5 minutes. This led to the back line needing to shrug off any potential threat from the Rushmore attack with Emma Mutch being their most dangerous threat up front. Mutch took her chance from the edge of the box to give the home side the lead but missed the target leaving goalkeeper Chloe Simmonds no challenges in the early stages of the match. The Rushmore attack continued to pile on the pressure on the Hawks defence with shots coming from all areas of the 18-yard box from Mutch and Simpsin-Howells.
The Hawks gradually got back into the game getting more and more comfortable as the first half went on; putting the hosts under a lot of stress. Ali Green tested the keeper with a powerful strike from distance but fell into the hands of Jade Bennett, but the Hawks finally found the equaliser in the 26th minute with the help of captain Jodie Burchell showing her talent finding the pass that fell into the feet of EJ May slotting the ball into the back of the net. As the first half was ending, the Hawks looked to find a second goal with EJ May taking her chance from a free kick 20 yards out but rattled the cross bar; giving the Rushmore team a sigh of relief.
Half Time: Rushmore Community 0 – 1 Havant & Waterlooville
Second Half:
As the whistle blew to begin the second half Rushmore were focused on finding an equaliser, Emma Mutch took her chances with a strike from the edge of the box but missed the frame of the goal. But that one goal lead soon changed as it became a two-goal lead thanks to Jodie Burchell with a bullet header from the corner leaving Jade Bennett no chance of keeping the ball out of the net. Chloe Simmonds showed her goalkeeping qualities soon after winning the 1 on 1 with Emma Mutch, keeping the Hawks with a two-goal advantage. Rosie Willis came on for Lily Moore leading from the front creating instant impact causing havoc for the Rushmore back line until she weaved in between both centre backs and taking her chance slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 0-3 for Havant & Waterlooville with 30 minutes still left of play.
Rushmore continued to find it difficult to find a gaol back thanks to Simmonds who continued to put in an excellent shift in between the posts with save after save leaving the players and spectators jaw dropped. The Hawks were seeking a fourth goal with Rosie Willis breaking through the Rushmore defence taking the strike on but failed to find the inside of the posts by a small margin. The home side took on one final chance to try prevent a clean sheet for the Hawks with a cracking shot that clattered against the frame of the goal with the referees whistle blowing for full time.
Full Time: Rushmore Community 0 – 3 Havant & Waterlooville
Player of the Match: Chloe Simmonds
Chris Cooper’s Hawks continue their unbeaten run in the league winning 0-3 against an impressive Rushmore side but proved their dominance in the game giving the ladies more confidence leading into the next fixture against AFC Stoneham at Westleigh Park.