FA Women’s National League Division One (South-East)
Team: Melling, Curr, Owen, Hill, Blodgett, Lewin, Petit, Hennessy, Stanley, Akerman, Searle
Following a bit of a scrappy opening at the Powerday Stadium, the drizzle began to turn into heavy rain.
The first real effort of the evening fell to the R’s, when, following a very good move, Katie Akerman’s strike was well saved by Elisa Dogor. And then, from the resulting corner, I think it was Jo Blodgett who headed wide of the target.
The game began to open out. Nicole Melling rushed forward to clear the danger and the R’s keeper then went down to make an excellent stop from Tori St. Clair. She then made another save from the follow-up, but this time the flag was raised for offside.
At the other end, after being put through by Kasha Petit, Grace Stanley evaded the keeper before shooting wide of the upright.
Katie Akerman did well to win a corner, from which Georgie Lewin headed over the crossbar. At half-time it remained goalless.
A minute or so after the break, Grace Stanley’s spectacular effort was deflected into the keeper’s gloves. Then, two attempts at goal, following Ellie Searle’s dangerous ball into the box, came to nothing.
On 66 minutes, Steve Quashie introduced Emilia Nygaard-Parsons at the expense of Izzy Owen.
And within a minute or so of coming on, after the ball was squared from the right, her first time shot narrowly evaded the post.
Rangers took a deserved lead a few minutes later when Kasha Petit superbly buried the ball into the top corner.
Frankie Webster replaced Katie Akerman after 74 minutes.
The away side equalised five minutes later when Meila D’Santos slotted the ball home from close range after Amber Dredge’s initial effort had been saved.
Kasha Petit made way for Grace Shephard on 80 minutes.
An Actonians player was booked for tripping Nicole Melling as she prepared to take a goal-kick.
The R’s did come close to taking the lead after Emily Hill’s header came off the post following Alice Curr’s corner.
However, a few minutes from the end the visitors struck. Tori St. Clair took control of Jasmine Williamson’s through-ball and she then proceeded to shoot beyond the Rangers keeper.
Haywards Heath Town were the next visitors to the Powerday Stadium.
Steve Russell