A stoppage-time penalty from Megalie Mendes rescued a point for Fulham FC Women against newly-promoted Ashford United as the Whites started their London and South Regional Premier League season with a draw at Motspur Park this afternoon.
The reliable Mendes kept her composure from twelve yards to convert a spot-kick in the fifth minute of injury-time to ensure a share of the spoils for Steve Jaye’s side after Ashford had taken the lead through a solo strike from substitute Rebecca Wyatt with nine minutes to play. The hosts poured forward in search of a late leveller and the South African wing-back slotted home from twelve yards after a handball in the box. Fulham might even have won it at the death but Ede Buchele was denied by a smart save from Lucy Green.
The dramatic closing stages were in stark contrast to a first half that delivered little in the way of clear-cut chances. Green used her feet to prevent Mendes from stabbing home a fine Tia Foreman free-kick in the seventh minute but, although Fulham dominated possession, they struggled to break through a well-drilled Ashford defence. Summer signing Sophie Manzi shot over ten minutes before the interval, but the longer the game went on the more the visitors grew in confidence.
Becky Stormer had a goal correctly ruled out for offside on the hour and saw her header from Madi Parsonson’s cross superbly saved by Green. As the Whites pushed for an opener, Ashford had opportunities on the counter-attack with Jade Steadman going close and Wyatt stunned the home crowd by shooting past a helpless Ellie Parker after seizing on a defensive mistake.
The Whites’ incessant pressure paid dividends deep into stoppage time and they will look to build on their fightback when travelling to Dartford United for their second league fixture on Sunday afternoon.
FULHAM FC WOMEN: Parker; Tagliavini, Stormer, Southgate; Mendes, Foreman, Barron-Clark, Harris; Adamson, Buchele, Manzi. Subs: Stratton, Dale, Parsonson, Hayman, Heasman.
GOAL: Mendes (90+5).
ASHFORD UNITED LADIES: Green, Brown, Davies, Diamond, K. Howard, Y. Howard, Jackson, Jeffrey, Newman, Steadman, Stevens. Subs: Harris, Stannard, Wilson-Sharp, Wyatt.
GOAL: Wyatt (81).
ATTENDANCE: 171.
