An outstanding display of finishing from teenage forward Ede Buchele powered Fulham Women into the second round of the Combined Counties Football League Midweek Women’s Cup with a 7-0 demolition of Tooting Bec at Motspur Park last night.
Steve Jaye selected a side that combined blended some of his regular starters who are pushing for promotion from the London and South East Regional Premier League and with promising talent from Fulham’s under-18 set up. The Whites dominated from the outset but had to wait to make the breakthrough with Tooting proving dogged in defence and dangerous on the counter attack. Fulham had early chances with the impressive Lola Almendros shooting over from distance before Charmaine True’s snapshot also just cleared the crossbar.
The opening goal arrived courtesy of recent arrival Summer Roberts, who continued her fine form since breaking into the Fulham first team who a superb display down the left flank. Roberts, who showed an almost telepathic understanding with Buchele all evening, lashed in the centre forward’s clever pass to put the hosts ahead nine minutes before the interval. Buchele troubled the lead two minutes later, prodding home after an excellent corner from Mila Lewis had caused chaos in the Bec box.
True was denied by a smart save before half time but Fulham were now cutting through the visiting defence more regularly. Ten minutes into the second period Roberts rifled in her second of the evening from close range after more intelligent approach play from Roberts and just three minutes later Buchele doubled her tally for the night with another unerring finish after a beautiful turn in the area.
Almendros, who was uot to score as she struck the post with a drive from the edge of the area, then did brilliantly to tee up Buchele for her hat trick as the floodgates began to open. The in-form Buchele almost turned provider for Chloe Connelley, but her shot rolled agonisingly wide of goal. Debutant Libby Stratton then made a superb save to deny the visitors a goal from a one-on-one but the Whites were well in control. As Tooting tired, defensive mistakes began more frequent and Buchele punished one loss of possession ruthlessly, seizing on the loose ball on the halfway line and dribbling into the penalty area before slotting a superb fourth goal into the bottom corner of the net.
By this stage, Fulham looked as if they would score with every attack. A deserved goal for the lively Ilana Harris-Walters rounded off the scoring with five minutes to play as he drove high into the net after a well-worked move down the right. Serene progress into the next round of a new midweek competition was the perfect preparation for the Whites’ vital home league clash with Dartford at Motspur Park on Sunday afternoon.
FULHAM WOMEN (3-4-3): Stratton; Allen, Bird, Southgate; Lewis, Alemndros, Hill, True; Heasman, Roberts, Buchele. Subs: Christison-McNee, Foreman, Harris-Walters, Connelley.
GOALS: Roberts (36, 55), Buchele (38, 58, 60, 76), Harris-Walters (85).
