Torquespeed 3 Chelmsford City Reserves 4

Sunday 5^th October 2008, Tiptree Sports Centre, Thurstable School, Tiptree Kick Off 2.00pm Essex County Women's League Division Two.

  An all round battling second half performance saw City turn round a 3-1 half time deficit to gain maximum points on Sunday.

  The match had started well for City, Jade Nelson seeing the keeper off her line, unleashing a terrific strike from just inside the Torquespeed half after only 5 minutes. the opening quarter of an hour saw City work the ball forward well but then lost their way, being out muscled and outplayed for the remainder of the half.

  The home side grabbed the equalising goal midway through the half, a near post cross from the right being flicked on and looping over the head of the keeper from an acute angle.

  The driving rain made the surface very slippery, the ball skimming off the muddy surface and with the home side looking to cope better with the worsening conditions, netted two further quick goals on the half hour to enjoy a 3-1 lead at the break.

  City, to their credit, looked a different side in the second half, dominating the game for long periods. They pulled an early goal back courtesy of an Ashleigh Harding shot from the edge of the box.  On 60 minutes, Emma Wells drew City level with a well taken goal following good work down the right flank and a flurry of chances followed soon after. Letitia Cleary had a left foot strike go inches over the bar and a Wells header from 6 yards went over from a well placed Nelson free kick. The home keeper had to be alert to save on a number of occasions as City were well on top.

  The introduction of Nicola Medici on the left wing after Angela Holden went off injured saw her link up well with Harding and within ten minutes it was Medici who netted the all important winning goal. Superb work on the right wing by Letitia Cleary saw her beat her marker and cut inside near the byeline and play the ball across the face of goal to the far post where Medici timed her run to perfection, side-footing the ball home.

  City’s defence dealt with comfortably, the Torquespeed swift counter-attacks and continued to pressurise the home goal, creating a number of half chances and recorded their third straight victory.

  Chelmsford City: Parker, Berry (Millar), Cornell, Threadgold, Holden (Medici), Wells, Barnard, Arkell, Nelson, Harding and Cleary.

Goalscorers: Jade Nelson, Ashleigh Harding, Emma Wells and Nicola Medici.

City Player of the Match: Ashleigh Harding

Referee: Dan McLaughlin (Harwich)