Panthers are quick enough to stop Chichester in their tracks

Chichester City Ladies 2 Panthers 0

London and South-east Regional League

Chichester got off to a shaky start as Panthers quickly took control.

It was scrappy and Chichester found it difficult to put their foot on the ball.

Chichester’s back line felt the pressure and in midfield Steph Madden and Annie Richardson had their work cut out.

The hosts did manage a few shots on goal before the break.

After the break it was clear Panthers were starting to tire.

A fantastic ball from Kirsty Willett allowed Abbey Shrubb to outpace the opposition defenders and comfortably lob the keeper.

Chichester created several more chances with Megan Thompson hitting one just wide. Georgina Starkey had a superb game on the wing and put in a number of brilliant crosses. Her hard work was rewarded when a run and shot made it 2-0.

Hollie Wride and Lucie Challen came on and Chichester piled on the pressure for Panthers, with some brilliant passing and moving.

The victory followed a 4-1 FA Women’s Cup success over Maidstone. Zoe Hughes-Jones, Lucie Challen and Abbey Shrubb (2) were the scorers.

Chi City Res 4 Rusthall 1

League Cup first round

A change in formation allowed Megan Evans and Jemma Cottam-Verbruggen to control the centre of midfield with Laura Sherwood stopping forward passes.

Debutant Alex Hammond and Lizzie Ogden worked hard in attack and defence. A couple of efforts were stopped by the Rusthall keeper but it was 0-0 at half-time.

Chichester controlled the second half, and full-backs Laura Wright and Kirsty Dowle saw a lot of the ball.

Grant forced a good save from the Rusthall keeper but Ogden followed it in to make it 1-0.

A long-range effort slipped through the hands of Chichester’s keeper to make it 1-1.

But soon substitute Natalie Spencer’s cross-shot found Grant for a tap-in to make it 2-1.

Woman of the match Grant got her second and pressure from substitute Lauren Ellis allowed Cottam-Verbruggen to finish the game with a superb strike from the edge of the area.

This was a great win and confidence booster for the reserves.

CHICHESTER: Adams, Wright, Steed, Bateman, Dowle, Evans, Sherwood, Cottam-Verbruggen, Hammond, Grant, Ogden, Subs: Spencer, Fisher, Ellis.

UNDER-16

Felpham Tigers 1 Crawley Town 3

With the wind at their backs, Felpham put Crawley under pressure from the start with Amy Bailey and Remi Crawley testing the visitors’ goalkeeper.

With Katie Hilsea looking assured in goal, Felpham were well on top and it was no surprise when the pressure resulted in an own goal after good play by Crawley.

Felpham had only one goal to show for their superiority and Crawley equalised straight after the break.

Hilsea did well to keep the scores level but pressure told and Crawley took a 3-1 lead.

Eloise Paine had a shot cleared off the line.

FELPHAM: Hilsea, Luff, Merriman, Makey, Haddock , C Johnson, E Johnson, Bailey, Crawley, Kitchen, Martin. Subs: Spencer, Paine.