Braces from both Megalie Mendes and Georgia Heasman helped Fulham Women come from behind to beat Sutton United 4-1 and register their sixth successive victory.
Steve Jaye’s had to show real character after going behind to Laura Murtagh’s predatory strike on the quarter hour as the Fulham defence was caught square. But Mendes responded in the perfect manner – curling a fabulous free-kick into the top corner from wide on the left flank within three minutes.
The Whites quickly established themselves as an attacking force after drawing level with the superb Sascha Paschale unfortunate not to give the hosts the lead with a rising drive after a brilliant ball from Heasman. Sutton keeper Zoe McNulty did bravely denied Mendes a second when the South African surged onto a superb cross from Emily Bird before Fulham custodian Frankie Gibbs, making a first league start for the Whites in four years, dashed off her line to end a dangerous Sutton break.
Fulham kept pressing with Betty Barron-Clark hitting a speculative drive from distance wide before they edged in front with a well-worked move before the interval. A flowing move saw Sophie Manzi and Sascha Pascale work space inside the penalty area before the clinical Heasman found the far corner with a precise finish. The in-form winger than ensured Fulham made the perfect start to the second half by extending their lead after latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Lilly Lambird.
That was the cue for Fulham, whose command of the contest was solidified with the introduction of Becky Stormer from the bench, to take full control. Mendes was a real menace along the left wing all afternoon and, after her low cross was blocked, she powered an unstoppable finish through McNulty’s grasp to make it four. The hosts had further chances to make the result more resounding but McNulty saved smartly from substitute Ede Buchele before smothering at the feet of Mary Southgate after a barnstorming run from the skipper and Alex Hayman sent a late header over.
FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Gibbs; Dale, Tagliavini, Southgate; Mendes, Bird, Barron-Clark, Lambird; Adamson, Heasman, Manzi. Subs: Parker, Stormer, Hayman, Panting, Buchele.
BOOKED: Manzi.
GOAL: Mendes (20, 54), Heasman (43, 46).
SUTTON UNITED WOMEN: McNulty; Measures, Backhurst, Modak, Meehan, Colepio, Bowles, Hurst, Wells, Kabadaki, Murtagh. Subs: Knowlton-South, Franics, McKenzie, Hooper, Spear.
GOAL: Murtagh (15).
REFEREE: Warren Igglesden.
ATTENDANCE: 189
