Georgia Heasman bagged a brace as Fulham Women made it three wins in a row and ended Saltdean United’s 100% start to the season with a 4-1 win at Hill Park this afternoon.
Saltdean, who had won 4-0 at Enfield Town last weekend, began brightly with Georgia Bridges seeing a second-minute strike ruled out for offside before Heasman hit her first shot of the afternoon over the bar and the lively Lilly Lambird whistled one wide. The visitors went in front on the twenty minute mark when wing-back Madi Parsonson scored straight from a corner.
Steve Jaye’s drew confidence from their summer signing’s stunning strike and doubled their lead five minutes later. Heasman scored her fourth goal of the season after being set up by Sasha Adamson to give Fulham a firm foothold at one of the division’s in-form sides. Sophie Manzi and Adamson had chances to score a third before half-time but the Whites’ flawless away display saw them head in at half-time with a deserved two-goal lead.
The returning Mary Southgate radiated confidence at the heart of Fulham’s back three, who stepped up astutely to end a promising Saltdean attack at the start of the second half to see Lucy Jellett flagged offside. Manzi almost converted a fine free-kick from Megalie Mendes but United managed to clear the danger before the former Dulwich striker saw a snapshot saved.
A third goal looked on the cards and it came as substitute Mia Adaway seized on a defensive lapse to play in the ice-cool Heasman for her second of the afternoon. Adaway, who arrived from Portsmouth last month, then fired home Fulham’s fourth with fifteen minutes remaining. The Cottagers couldn’t keep a clean sheet as Chloe Nye grabbed a late consolation for Saltdean after Olivia Dale had hit her own crossbar with an attempted clearance – but that couldn’t take the shine of an accomplished away display.
The Whites will look to keep their impressive run going against Millwall Lionesses at Motspur Park next Sunday afternoon
SALTDEAN UNITED WOMEN: Hamilton; Steer, Greenlees, Howell; Sinden, Tucker, Wainwright, Brown, Howells; Hill, Bridges. Subs: Gibbons, Gates, Jellett, Nye, Sturdy.
GOAL: Nye (87).
FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Parker; Tagliavini, Dale, Southgate; Parsonson, Mendes, Hill, Lambird; Heasman, Adamson, Manzi. Subs: Gibbs, Adaway, Huntrods, Barron-Clarke, Buchele.
GOALS: Parsonson (20), Heasman (25, 67), Adaway (75).
REFEREE: Lisa Bean.
