Sasha Adamson, Georgia Heasman and Chloe Christison-McNee got the goals as Fulham Women overcome a spirited Sutton United side 3-1 at a sunny Motspur Park this afternoon to stay on top of the London and South Eastern Regional Premier Division.
Steve Jaye included new signing Cat Beaver on the bench after the centre back arrived from Milton Keynes this week, but Fulham initially struggled to break down a well-drilled Sutton side, managed for the first time by Lucy Clark. United, with former Fulham defender Sophie Modak wearing the captain’s armband, made light of the absence of Fern Colepio, Ella Meehan and Chloe Francis despite the hosts enjoying the lion’s share of possession from the outset.
Megalie Mendes whipped a free-kick right across the face of goal from the left but no white shirt was able to profit from the excellent delivery before Jaz Backhurst tested Fulham goalkeeper Ellie Parker with an audacious effort from distance. The home side hit the front on thirteen minutes when a good move down the left saw Heasman get to the byline and send in a cross that looped up off the legs of a defender for Adamson to head past Zoe McNulty.
Ella Tagliavini almost made it two with a downward header that McNulty did well to keep out before the Sutton keeper superbly denied Sophie Manzi and Adamson with a brilliant double save. Fulham’s pressure did eventually lead to a second on 33 minutes when substitute Ede Buchele sauntered down the right and cut the ball back into a crowded penalty area. Heasman made no mistake with an accurate finish, although McNulty vehemently protested that she had been impeded by a Fulham forward in an offside position. The referee conferred with his assistant before giving the goal.
Chloe Christison-McNee, in the midst of a dominant display in central midfield, required lengthy treatment after being the victim of a wild lunge from Laila Malcolm, who was very fortunate to only receive a yellow card. Manzi and Olivia Dale were cautioned after the interval before Clark’s side fought their way back into the contest midway through the second half. The clever Caitlin Savage sped away from a couple of challengers after latching onto a flick on from Toni-Anne Bussey and had the vision to pick out Backhurst, who found the bottom corner with a precise finish after Fulham’s defence was caught horribly square.
But Fulham restored their two-goal advantage within three minutes when Christison-McNee rose highest at the far post to head home a Mendes corner. The Scottish midfielder, who has shown such resilience to battle back from a serious injury, was mobbed by her ecstatic team-mates as celebrated the goal with a delirious dive.
Tessa Allen returned to first-team action from the bench before Beaver made her first Fulham appearance in the final fifteen minutes. Sutton defended stoutly to keep Fulham at bay in the closing stages with McNulty smothering two Buchele efforts before Adamson went close to scoring her second of the afternoon when her 25-yarder hit the top of the far post.
The Whites remain top of the table, with Dulwich Hamlet and Dartford – who both won this afternoon and have games in hand – breathing down their necks. There is a break from the battle for promotion next Sunday when Dulwich visit Motspur Park in the League Cup.
FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Parker; Dale, Tagliavini, Southgate; Bird, Mendes, Christison-McNee, Lambird; Heasman, Adamson, Manzi. Subs: Todd-Warmouth, Allen, Beaver, Murtagh, Buchele.
BOOKED: Dale, Manzi.
GOALS: Adamson (13), Heasman (33), Christison-McNee (67).
SUTTON UNITED WOMEN: McNulty; Modak, Measures, South; Malcolm, Talbut-Smith, Backhurst, Buckmire-Monro, Bussey, Thomas, Savage. Subs: Cutler, Tyrer, Frances-Creaser, Spear.
BOOKED: Malcolm.
GOAL: Backhurst (64).
ATTENDANCE: 160
