Late goals by Jo Broadhurst and Aran Embleton were hard earned consolation for the ex-England All-Stars as they went down 5-2 to Women’s Premier League champions Brighton in the FAWPL Charity Trophy match at Leamington FC.
By Tony Leighton
In an enjoyable contest aimed at raising funds for the charity Breast Cancer Care, Brighton ensured themselves of victory with five goals in the first 56 minutes courtesy Amy Taylor (2), Kate Natkiel, Lilly Agg and Sophie Perry.
The England Ex’s started well enough, midfielder Sammy Britton spraying around some neat passes and striker Justine Lorton making probing runs.
Pictured – The teams pose for group snaps.
But Brighton fired a warning shot with a Natkiel 20-yarder that goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis brilliantly tipped over the bar.
The FAWPL champions went ahead in the 20th minute, Taylor sliding the ball home from 12 yards, then two minutes later Natkiel doubled the lead with a powerful 18-yard drive.
Agg wriggled her way through the ex-England defence to score goal number three in the 28th minute; and two minutes before the interval in was four as Taylor bagged her second goal of the afternoon with a low 15-yard shot.
Pictured – Sammy Britton
When Perry shot home from close range 11 minutes after the break a rout seemed in the offing; but the England veterans got a second wind to set up a highly entertaining final half-hour.
Marieanne Spacey, a day after the announcement of her MBE award in the Queen’s birthday honours, made her presence felt while Sian Williams produced some fine play as did Clare Taylor and Lindsay Johnson in defence.
Broadhurst struck the bar with a 20-yard free-kick, then Lorton and Embleton both had shots cleared off the line within seconds of each other.
Pictured – Ex-England Allstars
The arrears were finally reduced in the 84th minute, when Broadhurst coolly slotted home a penalty after Ellen Maggs had been brought down.
Embleton, who had twice sent shots over the bar, hit the net for the England Ex’s second goal with the last kick of the game deep into stoppage time.
The Player of the Match award went to Clare Taylor, at 51 the oldest player on the pitch, for a solid 90-minute performance that turned the clocks back in style.
All images by www.clivejonespr.com
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