Sunday 25th November 2007 at the Dog & Duck, Wellingborough Town FC

Match Report:  Rushden & Diamonds Ladies 6 - 0 AFC Wimbledon Ladies

(South East Combination)

Rushden & Diamonds Ladies finished comfortable winners against bottom of the table AFC Wimbledon. Aileen Whelan's opened the scoring after just 11 minutes, but the visitors held on for another hour before Diamonds finished strongly with goals from Vicky Gallagher, Mikaela Welford(2), Jade Linnell and Charly Wright in the final twenty minutes.

Diamonds started with an attacking formation, and most of the opening play was in the visitors half. Wimbledon defended well enough to thwart any idea that it was going to be an easy game and Diamonds were unable to get any shots on target in the opening period. It fell to Aileen Whelan on 11 minutes to ease the home sides nerves with a great individual effort. After a mazy run from close to the centre circle, she surged forward and fired a low shot past keeper Jodie Fernandes to give Diamonds the lead.

As Diamonds continued to dominate the game, Wimbledon did well to foil the home side with some good and some fortunate defending. Diamonds were also guilty of some weak or wayward shooting. Kim Duffin did well to block Caroline Moran's effort and Kirsty Cooper had the ball in the net again on 17 minutes, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The visitors brought on tall central defender Rebecca Duggan to try to steady the defence shortly after the disallowed goal.

Diamonds had another good chance on 29 minutes when keeper Fernandes made a hash of clearing at the edge of the area heading the ball up into the air. Charly Wright knocked the ball over the keeper striking the bar. She followed up the rebound, and cut the ball back for Moran, but the shot struck Duggan's head and just cleared the bar. The ensuing corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble, but neither Cooper nor Moran could bundle the ball over the line. Shots continued to flow high and wide until the interval as Diamonds continued to squander chances.

Half time: Rushden & Diamonds Ladies 1 - 0 AFC Wimbledon Ladies

Both sides made changes at half time, with Lucy Goering replacing injured captain Faye Ludlowe for the visitors, and Jade Linnell replacing Stephanie Thompson for the home side. Linnell's introduction seemed to liven up Diamonds as they continued to pepper the Wimbledon goalmouth. Jodie Fernandes did well to save from Welford and moments later, Rosie Thurston's powerful header from a corner was blocked away to safety.

Vicky Gallagher replaced Rosie Thurston on the hour, taking up the centre forward position, with Moran dropping back to midfield. Chances continued to come and go, Welford's shot being saved on the line, while another excellent run from Whelan ended with Gallagher shooting wide.

Charlene Ward was having a quite afternoon in the Diamonds goal and was rarely troubled. Wimbledon looked to break quickly out of defence, but Amy O'Brien and Kelly Robinson were able to cope without too much difficulty. They won their first corner on 67 minutes, but Laura Toplis' corner kick was cleared at the near post by Kirsty Cooper.

Diamonds finally got a second on 71 minutes, when a quick ball upfield found Aileen Whelan. Her pass forward found Vicky Gallagher who took the ball past Kim Duffin before shooting past the keeper. Having waited an hour for the second goal, within a minute, they got another. Whelan sent Wright away on left, her initial effort being blocked. She picked up the rebound and crossed from the byline to Mikaela Welford at the far post who shot past Fernandes.

With the flood gates open, Diamonds quickly looked to add another, and Kelly Robinson was unlucky on 76 minutes, after heading past Fernandes from Linnell's free-kick only for the goal to be disallowed. Moments later Wright's cross found Mikaela Welford loitering at the far post to slot the ball home. Number 5 came within two minutes with Welford becoming the provider when she cut the ball back into the path of Jade Linnell, who fired the ball home off the post.

Five minutes from time, Charly Wright completed the scoring with a deserved goal when she ran inside from the left and fired a left foot shot leaving the keeper with no chance.

Full time: Rushden & Diamonds Ladies 6 - 0 AFC Wimbledon Ladies

Eleven goals in two games was a good tonic for Diamonds after the recent goal drought and next weekend, they look to continue the run when they visit 2nd placed Lewes Ladies at The Dripping Pan, Lewes FC.

Teams:

Rushden & Diamonds Ladies: Charlene Ward, Amy O'Brien, Kelly Robinson, Rosie Thurston (Vicky Gallagher 60), Leanna Doyle, Kirsty Cooper, Stephanie Thompson (Jade Linnell HT), Charly Wright, Caroline Moran, Aileen Whelan, Mikaela Welford.

Subs not used: Nil.

AFC Wimbledon Ladies: Jodie Fernandes, Kim Duffin, Faye Ludlowe (Lucy Goering HT), Lisa Coughman, Evellyn Torres (Rebecca Duggan 18), Emma Roberts, Laura Toplis, Amy Coughman, Beth Sims, Abigail Igbanboa, Claire Speed.

Subs not used: Nil.

Goals: Aileen Whelan 11 (1-0), Vicky Gallagher 71

(2-0), Mikaela Welford 72 (3-0), Mikaela Welford 77

(4-0), Jade Linnell 79 (5-0), Charly Wright 85 (6-0).

Referee: Mr R,Moss (Northants)

By Dave Mason

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Other results (SE Combination):

Bedford Town Bells 3 Lewes 3

Northampton Town 2 Cambridge City 0

Welwyn Garden City 3 Enfield Town 0

Forthcoming fixtures:

2nd December Lewes (Away)

9th December Bedford Town Bells (Home)

16th December Ipswich Town (Away)

Reserves:

Midland Combination Reserve League:

Leafield Athletic 4 Rushden & Diamonds 2

(Scorers: Priya Nataly, Jodie Rogers)