FA Women’s National League Division One (South East)
Team: McLean, Petit, Searle, Blodgett, Grieve, Jordinson (Carolan), Akerman (Kumaning), Hennessy (Nygaard-Parsons), Edwards (Curr), Moore, Hall
The morning’s persistent rain continued throughout the match.
It was the visitors who created the first chance of the game when a cross from the right was headed just over the crossbar.
After nine minutes, City broke into the Rangers box and Katie McLean made a great save from the No.9. Although she had clearly tipped the ball over the bar the referee awarded a goal kick.
The Lilywhites were creating a number of chances and their next effort was curled just past the post.
A minute or so later, as the R’s keeper advanced from her line the City player took the ball beyond her and shot at goal. As the ball entered the six-yard box Vicky Grieve managed to clear it in time.
It was no surprise when the Lilywhites took the lead after 22 minutes when Grace Stanley raced through and belted the ball into the back of the net.
At the other end, Kasha Petit’s run down the right-wing took her to the bye-line where she won a corner, but it came to nothing.
Then there was an unusual sinbin incident when a Rangers player was shown an orange card for dissent and had to leave the field for ten minutes.
Kasha Petit’s superb cross was met by an equally superb scissors kick, but the ball ended up in the keeper’s gloves.
The next goalscoring opportunity fell to the visitors after a good move got them into the box, but the resulting shot flew just over the bar. Half-time: 0-0.
Into the second-half and it was the home side who were straight out of the blocks. Ellie Searle’s effort was tipped onto the post.
On 51 minutes, Steve Quashie brought on Sue Kumaning at the expense of Katie Akerman.
A free kick was parried out by the City keeper, but the R’s substitute wasn’t able to finish.
The second change was made on 70 minutes when Emilia Nygaard-Parsons replaced Laura Hennessy.
It was all Rangers and further efforts followed with Sue Kumaning shooting over the bar and Brogan Moore firing just wide of the upright.
Then, following a great move, Brogan Moore’s 25-yarder dipped before hitting the crossbar.
After Rangers had won a corner, the first shot was blocked, and the follow-up then went over the bar.
The R’s deserved a hard-fought equaliser, but would they run out of time? Well, it came in the 93rd minute when Sue Kumaning’s 20-yard strike entered the net courtesy of the left-hand post.
A superb second-half performance in difficult conditions and at the final whistle Steve Quashie’s side’s 2022 unbeaten run continued.
Steve Russell