Eastleigh Ladies 0-5 Aldershot Town Ladies

Pre-Season Friendly

SUNDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2008

Eastleigh Ladies 0-5 Aldershot Town Ladies

Venue: HOME at BAT, Totton & Eling

Team: Brooks, Beeton, Hebdige, Heda, Lewis, Read (Niven), Strode-Gibbons, Gwyther, Piper (Aboe), Murray-Walker, Boucher (Kingston) – Unused sub Brazier

Eastleigh Ladies inaugural F A Womens Cup fixture came to an abrupt ending. The Preliminary tie was abandoned ten minutes before the end of the scheduled ninety after Eastleigh substitute Stacey Niven remained motionless on the ground after colliding with the Aldershot goalkeeper Hayley Calder as they both made attempts for the loose ball. As the players awaited the response from the ambulance service, the match referee in agreeance with both Clubs brought the fixture to a close, with Aldershot in a seemingly unassailable 5-0 lead.

Aldershot Town Ladies normally play in the Southern Region Division Premier Division, two divisions higher than the Division that Eastleigh are in this season, following their promotion as Hampshire County League Division Two Champions last season.

Eastleigh gave competitive debuts to three players in Mel Lewis, Ali Strobe-Gibbons and Nite Murray-Walker. It took time for both teams to settle with the first chance not arriving until fifteen minutes when Eastleigh goalkeeper Alex Brooks produced a fine stop from Laura Funnell. Two minutes later a long range effort from the impressive Caroline Shepherd in the Aldershot midfield struck the post the rebound falling for Nicki Moore that produced another fine stop from Brooks.

Eastleigh’s response was another long range effort, Amy Boucher firing in the shot that was saved by Calder. There was another close shave for Eastleigh on twenty eight minutes when Moore shot wide when well placed whilst two minutes later Boucher’s free kick was again saved by Calder following an Eastleigh attack.

The pressure was starting to tell and Aldershot did take the lead after thirty two minutes. Laura Wallman lofted a shot from twenty five yards that beat Brooks to give the visitors the lead. Aldershot did have the ball in the net again three minutes before the interval but the effort was disallowed for offside whilst Murray-Walker had a shot well saved by Calder as the first half ended.

Eight minutes into the second period Aldershot doubled their lead. A cross from the left was turned home by Wallman. Three minutes later and Moore raced through the Eastleigh rearguard before firing a low drive past Brooks for goal number three.

With Eastleigh visibly shocked, Aldershot added a fourth goal on sixty two minutes, Wallman completing her hat trick heading a cross that struck the underside of the bar before bouncing over the line.

It was Wallman who added her fourth goal of the afternoon with a shot in the seventy fourth minute, whilst Eastleigh's only real attempt of the second half fell to Murray-Walker who was denied by Calder.

The strong running of Niven was causing concern for the Aldershot rearguard after her introduction as a substitute into the front runners role until the unfortunate accident that ended the game.

It was an enjoyable game and one that showed that Eastleigh Ladies have grown well together in the year that they have been formed and all bodes well for the future.

Final Score: Eastleigh FC Ladies 0-5 Aldershot Ladies