Billericay Ladies 5 v 0 Harlow Ladies

By Aaron Moore

AN opening defensive performance wasn’t enough for the Hawks as they faced a 5-0 defeat to Essex rivals Billericay Town on the road on Sunday afternoon.

It was the hosts who made the better start as they came forward in the opening minutes. Zara Wickert held onto a ball towards goal before Chloe Bassett ran another ball clear of the goal. The Hawks looked to come forward in the 3rd-minute as they looked to ease the early pressure, but Billie Brooks ball to the on-rushing Beth Chambers was just too far for the winger before the hosts continued their press.

Wickert made a huge save to keep the Hawks in the game as she tipped an effort over the bar before Billericay had another chance, but the effort was fired wide of the post. The Hawks looked to come forward once again and applied good pressure to the Ricay defence, but the hosts managed to clear the ball with ease before they resumed their constant press. The hosts looked to be in on goal, but the referee awarded Harlow a free-kick for handball before the hosts had a couple of chances, but couldn’t quite find the opening goal. An effort was sent over the bar from close range before the hosts wondered how they hadn’t scored as Wickert pulled off an couple of magnificent saves to keep the score goalless.

The resolve was finally broken in the 27th-minute as the hosts’ pressure finally paid off. Logan O’Shea fired an effort towards goal from distance and despite getting a glove to the ball, the ball had beaten Wickert in the Hawks goal. Despite being a goal down, the Hawks sought an equaliser as the game approached half-time. Georgia Box ran through on goal and slide the ball towards goal but the keeper held on before the hosts had a second in the 35th-minute. The ball had been played to Zoe Rushen who fired home from close range.

The Hawks finished the half the strongest as they sought to reduce the deficit before the half-time break. A corner was swung in towards the penalty spot, but claimed well by the keeper before a couple of chances came the way of the Hawks. Box looked to beat the defender to the ball, but it was kicked away before she could reach it and Chambers couldn’t quite reach a through ball.

The second half started how the first had, with the hosts on the front foot. Billericay came forward in the opening minutes, but Wickert was there again to deny them with a couple of good saves. The hosts had done well to pin the Hawks in their own half, but they weren’t able to make the most of their possession before they extended their lead a couple of minutes later. The ball was squared across the face of goal with Rushen tapping beyond Wickert for her second of the afternoon.

There was a brief chance for the Hawks as Millie Stacey did well to fire the ball into the box, but the keeper was out once again to claim the ball. The hosts looked to take the ball straight down the other end and almost had a fourth, but the shot was fired just wide of the target. They didn’t have to wait long for their fourth though as in the 66th-minute, O’Shea scored her second. Zara Wickert had made an initial two saves to deny the hosts before O’Shea slotted home to extend their lead.

Again, the Hawks had another chance to reduce the deficit as a ball was swung towards the head of Brooks, but the Ricay keeper punched the ball clear before the defender could head home, before Billericay sought more goals. Logan O’Shea looked to be in for the hosts fifth of the afternoon, but the ball was fired just wide before the fifth came in the 82nd-minute. The ball was squared to Karissa Rodney, who tapped home before the hosts fired another effort over the bar from distance.

Both sides looked to come forward in the final few minutes, but the Hawks weren’t able to score as they faced another big defeat.

Harlow Town: Wickert, Jarvis, Billson, Brooks, Farmer (Bueggein 70′), Stacey, Howell (O’Donnell 70′), Chambers, Bassett, D.Manning, Box

Unused: Jenkins