A late strike from wing-back Megalie Mendes rescued a point for Fulham Women at Ashford United this afternoon.
The South African struck right on the ninety-minute mark to ensure Steve Jaye’s side left Homelands Stadium with a share of the spoils – lofting home a lovely finish. The leveller sparked a prolonged period of late pressure during fifteen minutes of stoppage time but the Whites couldn’t force a winner – with substitute Ruby Murtagh’s shot superbly saved by Lucy Green.
United delivered a determined defensive performance, soaking up early Fulham pressure, and then striking from a free kick fifteen minutes into the contest following a foul from Olivia Dale. Sophie Brown’s shot was parried by Libby Stratton but Jenny Newman was on hand to convert the rebound. Sophie Manzi, Sascha Adamson, Georgia Heasman and Ella Tagliavini all saw shots saved as Fulham looked to reply before half-time with Mendes seeing an effort blocked as the visitors went in a goal down.
Ashford defended deeper in the second half but were able to prevent Fulham from fashioning clear cut chances until the last quarter of an hour. Dale drove forward but couldn’t get enough power on her shot to beat the goalkeeper. Just when it looked as if it wouldn’t be Fulham’s day, the reliable Mendes produced a moment of magic to loft in a leveller and the goal galvanised the away side for a late push. Madi Parsonson saw a well-struck free-kick saved with Mendes and Murtagh shooting off target before the midfielder went close again at the death after latching on to a lovely ball from Adamson.
Fulham, who are two points behind Dartford in second place, are in action away from home against next Sunday afternoon when they travel to fourth-placed Ebbsfleet in a crucial clash at the Kuflink Stadium.
ASHFORD UNITED WOMEN: Green; Brown, Davies, Diamond, Green, K. Howard, Y. Howard, Jeffrey, Monaghan, Newman, Steadman, Wyatt. Subs: E. M. Diamond, Marsh, Stannard, Sword, Wilson-Sharp.
GOAL: Newman (15).
FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Stratton; Dale, Tagliavini, Southgate; Parsonson, Mendes, Stormer, Lambird; Heasman, Adamson, Manzi. Subs: Parker, Christison-McNee, Hayman, Lewis, Murtagh.
GOAL: Mendes (90).
REFEREE: Bradley Godden.
