“To beat a team from a league above in such a convincing way, it just shows the quality of these players”.

• Connor Slade

Chichester City Women won in comprehensive fashion 8-2 on Sunday in a friendly against Milford & Witley Ladies who play a step higher in the South East Counties League Div 1.

City lost a player before the game had even started, when midfielder Molly Jones injured her hamstring in the warmup.
Which meant she was unable to build on her impressive debut at Leatherhead.

City made a great start and scored on 3 minutes through Gaby Hobday, a great through ball set her one on one with the keeper who initially made a good save, but the ball broke loose and she finished off the rebound into an empty net.

City who had been dominant from the start with their display of great passing started to turn the screw. They doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Rebecca Fry latching on to a through ball for a one on one with the keeper who she beat with a right foot shot in the bottom left hand corner.

Chichester City, with the upper hand in midfield created 2 more chances which should have finished the game off. A shot from Elinor Williams was saved by the keeper and a flicked header from Mia Gardner whizzed past the post.

On 40 minutes a replica of the through ball from the second goal released Rebecca Fry one on one with the keeper again, but this time the keeper save her goal bound effort.

Half Time: Chichester City Women 2, Milford & Witley Ladies 0.

7 minutes into the second half Payton Howard made one of her characteristic mazy runs from just inside the Milford half to the penalty area, but her shot was straight at the keeper.

On 53 minutes, Mia Gardner scored with a 25 yard screamer which dipped over the stranded keeper and under the bar into the net.

3 minutes later and City scored goal number 4. Elinor Williams cut in on her right foot and slots the ball into the net and it looks like the floodgates are starting to open.

But on the hour mark the visitors pulled a goal back. Mikki Collins was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in the area when the ball appeared to strike her shoulder. With no VAR at our disposal the penalty stood, which the visitors duly scored.

The City team had no need to worry as their advantage was restored 6 minutes later. Elinor Williams scored her second goal to make the score 5-1.

Payton Howard scored a wonder goal in the 70th minute to make it 6-1. Like the run she made in the first half, Payton picked the ball up in midfield drifting past 5 players until she reached the box. Unlike the first effort which hit the keeper, she lifted the shot high into the roof of the net off the underside of the bar.

The game was far from over. On 82 minutes the visitors scored a second goal, when a deep cross came into the box Emma Verinder who had had a very solid debut at right back, chested the ball down but the ball got away from her and the visitors forward drilled it into the net.

Again City didn’t have to wait long before restoring their advantage, Elinor Williams completed her hat trick to make it 7-2.

Elinor Williams completed the rout with the last action of the game, heading in a rebound for her 4th goal, and colliding with Katie Bundy who ended up in the back of the net with the ball and the keeper.

This was an extraordinary performance against a step higher team. The team performed cohesively and with good combination.

The defence worked hard and were solid throughout with whichever combination was on the pitch. The midfield worked well together, and their passing was excellent, and with 6 one on ones the through balls were excellent too.

The goals were well taken by the goal predators Gaby Hobday and Elinor Williams who was on fire, but also chipping in from Midfield was a cracking strike from Mia Gardner, and a excellent finish from Bex Fry who will probably be disappointed that she didn’t score a hat trick.

Payton Howard’s run and finish are a reminder of what she is capable of!

Also Chloe Simmonds had an excellent game in goal!

Manager Connor Slade was very happy with the result!