Goals from Georgia Heasman, Madi Parsonson and Ede Buchele helped Fulham FC Women to a comfortable 3-1 win at Aylesford yesterday afternoon and sent the Whites back to the top of the London and South Eastern Regional Premier League table.
Heasman opened the scoring in the seventh minute when she chested home a cross from Buchele as Fulham made a confident start at the Aylesford Recreation Ground. The winger then almost returned the favour six minutes later but Buchele was unable to turn home a dangerous drilled cross.
The visitors doubled their lead midway through the first half when Parsonson produced a impudent finish from the right wing to chip Aylesford goalkeeper Sade Rider and put clear water between the sides. Heasman was unfortunate not to score her second of the afternoon with a rising free-kick on the half hour, whilst young centre back Prudie Todd-Warmouth stung Rider’s palms with a fierce drive from distance before the break.
Buchele made it three a minute into the second half when the lively forward headed home a lovely cross from Lilly Lambird after a well-worked short corner. Aylesford got a goal back nine minutes later when Kara Richardson was on hand to sweep home the rebound after Amy Panyi’s shot was saved by Ellie Parker. The hosts finished strongly with Panayi and Beth Hulme coming close in the closing stages – but Fulham fully merited the three points.
A professional away performance – combined with Dulwich Hamlet’s 5-2 defeat of Dartford – ensured the Whites returned to the top of the table. The race for promotion looks set to go down to the wire with Fulham now two points clear of both Hamlet, who have a game in hand, and previous pacesetters Dartford, who have two games in hand.
AYLESFORD FC: Rider; B. Burnham, Witham, A. Burnham, Skelton, Armstrong, McLean-Wright, Elsley, Driscoll, Blyghton, Hulme. Subs: Wignal, Gondo, Golos, Richardson, Panayi.
GOAL: Richardson (55).
FULHAM FC WOMEN: Parker; Todd-Warmouth, Southgate, Dale; Parsonson, Bird, Christison-McNee, Lambird; Heasman, Buchele, Manzi. Subs: Stratton, Tagliavini, Allen, Murtagh, Adamson.
GOALS: Heasman (7), Parsonson (22), Buchele (46).
REFEREE: Amarachi Okamgba.
