FA Women’s National League One (South-East)
Team: Clarke, Searle, Wellesley-Davies, Gotch, Lewin, Hill, Ali, Mehmet, Orchard, Adebowale-Arimoro, Dzyadyk
Subs: Monaghan, Reid, Sampson, Owen, Morris, D’Santos, Leach
Rangers faced a strong, unbeaten Fulham side under the lights.
Two minutes in and Annie Dzyadyk’s dangerous cross was successfully pushed away to safety by Jacqui Goldsmid.
And six minutes later, Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro did well to stay onside, and her shot then rattled the crossbar.
The R’s got the goal they deserved after 16 minutes through Annie Dzyadyk’s sheer perseverance, which then allowed her to get in a position to round the keeper and roll the ball in the net.
Two minutes later and with a Fulham player down, the players took a drinks break.
Just before the half-hour mark, Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro burst through and forced a flying save from Jacqui Goldsmid.
The Cottagers drew level after 32 minutes when Becky Stormer headed in at the far post from Lily Stevens’ corner.
Fulham went close to taking the lead in added time. Kayleigh Stead’s glancing header came off the frame of the goal from Lily Stevens’ cross.
The referee blew the half-time whistle following four-plus minutes.
With the temperature dropping, Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro and Fulham’s Becky Stormer both ended up grounded and in need of some attention.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead around the hour-mark, when Kayleigh Stead managed to get the ball in the net, only to then see the lino’s flag raised for offside.
Danny Harrigan made his first change in the 66th minute when Juliet Adebowale-Arimoro made way for Jess Leach.
Ellie Searle’s excellent run resulted in Jess Leach’s attempt going behind. From which, Melis Mehmet’s two further corners concluded with the ball being successfully grabbed by Jacqui Goldsmid.
Meila D’Santos replaced Fern Orchard on 84 minutes.
Into the closing stages and Annie Dzyadyk was unfortunate once again when her strike from a widish position smashed against the crossbar.
Lilly Wellesley-Davies was booked in added time, and Rangers were denied a blatant corner in the dying seconds!
I have to say that it seemed that a number of Abi Oyeleke’s decisions were made in response to the Fulham bench!
Well done to all the players for such a solid, battling performance against a team that had won all their previous league games.
Next up for Danny Harrigan’s side was a trip to North Greenford’s ground to face Actonians.
Steve Russell