Keynsham Ladies 2-1 Portsmouth Oct 2018

Keynsham Town Ladies 2-1 Portsmouth Women
League Plate Second Round
AJN Stadium
21/10/18

After defeating Southampton last weekend in a 7-1 victory their reward was another visit from opposition from the South coast. Portsmouth were the visitors this time around, who play their football in the league above. However it was Keynsham who progress thanks to a 92nd minute goal from the competitive Elle Curson.


**apologies for not getting to the game until the 11th minute, just in time for the first goal of the afternoon**

Portsmouth went 1-0 up through Katie James with little over ten minutes gone. She was played through on the edge of the box, and she cut the defence in two. Her quick feet beat the recovering defender to fire past Charlotte Haynes to give the visitors an early lead.

Most of the half was played in the middle of the park with both defences playing well. Justine Lorton did make a break through to round the keeper, but Robyn Levett forced her wide and a covering defender made an excellent tackle. Keynsham finished the half well with Lorton in the thick of the action again.

Thirty five minutes in and a Lorton freekick, from the edge of the box, goes just over the bar. Moments later Laura Williams combines well with Lorton but again the finish was just over. However Keynsham did have reason to celebrate just five minutes before half time as they drew level.

Marauding full back, Kirsten Rendall, received the ball back from Lorton from her throw in. Her first time cross finds Kerry Bartlett with a free header to make the game 1-1 going into half time.

Portsmouth start this half brightly and had a couple of early chances from freekicks, but these came to nothing. Then around the fifty third minute chances start coming for both teams. First Ellie Curston plays in Lorton but her stretching shot goes wide of the near post.

A minute later Bartlett controls a long ball well but her volley on the turn is saved well by Levett. Williams then goes close for Keynsham whilst Portsmouth’s Daisy McLachlan, a minute after coming on, has a shot on target but it’s saved by Keynsham’s Haynes.

There was a big chance for Keynsham’s Bartlett on the sixty third minute after the number 9 finds herself in the Portsmouth box for the second time in a minute. However her turn and shot smashes against the post after beating Levett and bounces clear.

James is causing problems for the Keynsham defence throughout the game and wins a corner, which is cleared. At the other end, Keynsham substitute Keka does well to get one on one with Levett, but the Portsmouth keeper does well to smother the ball. Levett is busy again a moment later to deny Lorton this time from a narrow angle.

Keynsham’s number one, Haynes, pulls off a smart stop as Rachel Panting squares the ball to Hannah Geer, on seventy two minutes. This fine goalkeeping display is keeping Keynsham in the game at this point as Portsmouth are putting on the pressure. Panting tests Haynes reflexes again from distance forcing a fine finger tip save but is judged to be offside.

Then on ninety two minutes the game is won for Keynsham. Williams makes a good run to the opposite wing and lays the ball back to Bartlett for a one two. The winger looks up and spots the arriving Curson who fires in a rocket of a shot to beat Levett despite the custodian getting a finger tips to it.

To their credit Portsmouth weren’t done and had two fine chances moments later after the restart. Panting gets free and forces Haynes into a smart parry and Kate Jones clears the ball off of the line. In the next phase of play Daisy McLachlan shoots which is parried again by Haynes, falling to the head of Amelia Southgate; but the centre back heads over.


 


This game was one of the best games of ladies football I’ve ever seen, I’m shocked that there wasn’t more watching it! Best of luck to Portsmouth in their league season, a very professional outfit with lots of coaches and a media team present. That win takes Keynsham into the last 16, but how far will they go?
Get yourself down to the AJN Stadium to find out!

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