Striker Ede Buchele came off the bench to bag a second-half brace as Fulham FC Women won 4-0 at Dorking Wanderers this afternoon to extend their unbeaten run to ten matches.
Buoyed by their FA Cup giantkilling against Actonians last weekend, Steve Jaye’s side began brightly at Meadowbank with Sasha Adamson unlucky not to give the visitors the lead inside the first five minutes when her header was superbly turned round the post Dorking goalkeeper Tea Oldroyd. Adamson saw another shot saved after bright approach work from wing-back Megalie Mendes before Rachael Manley shot just wide when one-on-one with Ellie Parker.
Fulham took the lead in fifteen minute when a flowing move started by Ella Tagliavini saw Mendes and Adamson combine before a lovely one-two between Panting and Mendes allowed the former Oxford forward to fire Fulham ahead. Panting, in for the suspended Sophie Manzi up front, then hit the crossbar as the Whites threatened to cut loose but Dorking also wasted a one-on-one opportunity before the hosts were cut open just before the half hour mark.
Skipper Mary Southgate released Panting with a searching pass and she teed up Adamson, who finished emphatically on the spin from the edge of the penalty area. The first half finished with some lovely footwork from Lilly Lambird, who continued her eye-catching form from recent weeks, with the Whites two goals to the good at the break.
The home side were much more combative in the first fifteen minutes of the second half restricting their opponents to just one effort of note when Georgia Heasman burst clear of the defence but was denied by Oldroyd. Dorking’s diligent defending meant Fulham had to wait until Buchele’s arrival to pose a further goal threat. The speedy striker scored within a minute of being introduced, converting a square ball from Alex Hayman after a marvellous Mendes pass.
Buchele rounded off the scoring six minutes later when he tapped in a cross shot from Rebecca Barron-Clark at the far post. Fulham did threaten a fifth but Mendes was denied a deserved goal when her shot from distance was saved by Oldroyd.
DORKING WANDERERS WOMEN: Oldroyd; Darcy, Stuart, Sergeant, Crook, Manley, Williams, Butts, Benson, Watson, Wentworth. Subs: Sparrow, Small, Charles, Delves, Nash.
FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Parker; Tagliavini, Stormer, Southgate; Parsonson, Mendes, Barron-Clark, Lambird; Adamson, Heasman, Panting. Subs: Stratton, Bird, Dale, Hayman, Buchele.
GOALS: Panting (15), Adamson (27), Buchele (71, 77).
REFEREE: Lucy Clark
ATTENDANCE: 120.
