27 January 2008
With probably their best 45 minutes football of the season so far Hassocks Ladies gained an emphatic win against Gillingham based Anchorians. In the reverse tie earlier in the season Hassocks dug out an equaliser in injury time but this time they were determined to stamp their authority on the game early. Hassocks ability and stature at set pieces has been the undoing of many teams and sure enough after 16 minutes an Emma Young corner found Alex Southgate whose instant control followed by the swivel and shot was superb. Centreback Alison Dudley does not score many goals, her last one coming in December 2006 but from a Young free kick she soared above everyone else to power in the header to strengthen Hassocks lead. Hassocks were now enjoying themselves and were comfortably outpassing the visitors with excellent one and two touch football and Conny Coppinger in goal had very little to do. For the second match in a row Hassocks went into the break 3 goals up after Southgate added her second. In the second half Anchorians were clearly going to make a fight of it and although pulling one goal back, Coppinger produced two saves right out of the top drawer that had all spectators applauding. Having arrived at the game only 10 minutes before kick off due to a breakdown, striker Katie Harding had a relatively quiet first half by her standards but she was clearly in the mood in the second period with her close ball control and strength turning the visitors defence inside out and she got her reward with a great individual goal to take her to 21 goals for the season so far. The game was effectively over after an Anchorians player got herself needlessly sent off for a second yellow card. Next week Hassocks face the long haul to face bottom placed Dover.
Team:
Conny Coppinger,
Sonya Nye,
Alison Dudley,
Amy Hooper,
Sam Newman,
Colette Barry
(Elly Bryan),
Emma Young,
Laura Turner,
Liz King
(Charlotte Deeley),
Alex Southgate
(Bee Rathbone),
Katie Harding
Scorers:
Alex Southgate (2)
Alison Dudley
Katie Harding