Late strikes from substitutes Ede Buchele and Tia Foreman secured a second successive win for Fulham FC Women in a six-goal thriller against Ebbsfleet United Women on a scorching afternoon at Motspur Park.
The hosts showed character to come back from conceding an early goal when they failed to deal with an Ebbsfleet corner allowing Amelia Woodgate to score her fourth goal of the season in the fifteenth minute. Sasha Adamson went close to equalising for the Whites within three minutes when she headed over a devilish delivery from Georgia Heasman, but Steve Jaye’s side did level midway through the first half following a flowing move. Adamson found the bottom corner with a fine finish to score her second goal in as many games.
The equaliser appeared to give the hosts real confidence and Sophie Manzi showed all of her predatory instincts to put Fulham ahead six minutes before the break when she punished a defensive mistake and slotted home impressively, keeping her cool as the recovering Ebbsfleet defenders sought to crowd her out. But the visitors scored a second of their own just before the break when Amy Russ fired home after an error from Becky Stormer.
United initially looked in control after the resumption, hitting the post as they sought to regain the lead. But the introduction of teenage striker Buchele from the bench tilted the match in Fulham’s favour. After Betty Barron-Clark had drilled wide from distance, Buchele found a finish from close range with five minutes remaining after an almighty melee in the Ebbsfleet box.
The visitors went all out to find an equaliser and Fulham were indebted to Stormer who made a goal-saving intervention in her own penalty area. Foreman put the game between Ebbsfleet at the other end – emphatically heading home an excellent cross from Buchele to make sure of all three points.
The Whites will look to make it three wins in a row against second-placed Saltdean United, who have won all three of their fixtures so far, at Hill Park next Sunday.
FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Parker; Tagliavini, Stormer, Dale; Parsonon, Mendes, Hill, Barron-Clark; Adamson, Heasman, Manzi. Subs: Southgate, Foreman, Panting, Lambird, Buchele.
GOALS: Adamson (26), Manzi (39), Buchele (85), Foreman (89).
EBBSFLEET UNITED WOMEN: Roberts; Iron, Waud, Porter, O’Shea, Clifford, A. Woodgate, M. Woodgate, Russ, Hewitt, Carlton. Subs: O’Neill, Simmons, Fulgence, Jestin, Reynolds.
GOALS: A. Woodgate (15), Russ (44).
REFEREE: Lucy Clarke
ATTENDANCE: 143
