Actonians avenged their FA Cup defeat by Fulham earlier this season with a comfortable 3-1 victory in yesterday afternoon’s Capital Cup quarter final at Rectory Park.
The tie was in doubt until this before kick off because heavy overnight rain had left the pitch waterlogged, but an outstanding mopping operation made the match playable. The hosts began brighter putting the Fulham defence under sustained pressure from the outset, with Steve Jaye’s side only enjoying prolonged possession in their own half. Ellie Parker palmed away Dominika Netschova’s tenth-minute drive before the lively Jasmine Williamson drove just wide after a strong individual run into the Fulham area.
Fulham continued to try and play out from the back and they proved to be the architects of their own downfall midway through the first half. Netschova seized on a mistake from Megalie Mendes to drive at the Fulham defence before picking out Tori St. Clair with a precise pass. The centre forward, who had timed her run to perfection, placed her shot perfectly past Parker and into the far corner to give A’s a deserved lead.
It could have been two shortly afterwards. Olivia Clement almost got on the end of a floated free-kick from Mara Bramwell before St. Clair missed a glorious opportunity to put clear water between the sides. The striker, a constant menace throughout, was released by a clever through ball from Williamson and skipped around Parker but skewed her shot well wide of goal from four yards out.
The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the contest. Ella Tagliavini’s pass sent Georgia Heasman away down the right flank and her low cross was touched wide of the near post by Sasha Adamson, who had made a great run across the near post. Heasman, who like the rest of the Fulham front three had been starved of service in the proceeding half an hour, also tested Amber Taylor with an effort from outside the area – but Fulham were unable to keep up the pressure.
Devastatingly, they conceded a critical second goal deep into first half stoppage time. Netschova, who was outstanding in a unfamiliar right back role, was the provider once again – after Fulham had coughed up possession along their left flank – and Roschelle Shakes produced an unerring finish to give the Whites a mountain to climb. Jaye made changes at half time, bringing on Oliva Dale and Lily Lambird, and Fulham’s forward line began to see more of the ball but they conceded a sloppy third goal just after the hour mark.
St. Clair embarked on a mazy dribble down the right flank, beat Cat Beaver for pace and cut inside before surprising Parker with a shot past the Fulham goalkeeper at her near post. The visitors did not buckle, to their immense credit, and found a way back into the contest five minutes later. Heasman did brilliantly to tuck away Adamson’s ball having evaded the attentions of the Actonians back three and the Cottagers kept up the pressure until the final whistle – without any further reward. Chloe Christisson-McNee and Mendes shot wide with late efforts before Amber Dredge drilled over the bar herself with a minute to play.
ACTONIANS LFC (4-3-3): Taylor; Netschova (Dredge 55), Meade, Bramwell, Clement; D’Santos, Graham, Orozco (Mohamed 74); St. Clair (Hanif 90+1), Williamson (Ebine 90+2), Shakes (O’Reilly 88).
GOALS: St. Clair (21, 62), Shakes (45+3).
FULHAM FC WOMEN (3-4-3): Parker; Southgate (Dale 45), Tagliavini, Beaver; Parsonson (Allen 57), Mendes, Barron-Clarke (Lambird 45), Christison-McNee; Heasman, Adamson, Manzi (Buchele 65). Subs (not used): Gibbs.
GOAL: Heasman (67).
