Benjamin Parker
6:58pm, Mon 4th Sep 2023
AFC Portchester 3-1 Woking
Southern Region Women's Football League
Sunday 3rd September
Woking got off to a frustrating start as they lost their opening game of the season on the road. A solo goal from captain Kaitlin Howard wasn’t enough to fight back from a stunning hat-trick scored by the hosts' skipper Eilidh Currie.
After a promising pre-season, the Cards came into this game with a strong belief of positivity about what is to come this season. After a short delay to kick-off, they started with the aggressive nature that they have carried through from last season's Southern League Chairman’s Cup final victory.
Efrosyni Theocharous had the game's first effort, but her shot went just wide of the post. After finding space off the ball, she took her chance first time and was unlucky to miss by a fine margin.
Just under ten minutes into the game though, AFC Portchester took the lead through a stunning hard drive from around 35 yards out. Roz Markham managed to get down in goal but could do nothing with the powerful shot.
Shortly after, the Royals doubled their advantage, and it was Currie again who took aim from outside the box. This time, her effort was drilled into Roz’s opposite corner to give them a comfortable early lead.
Woking didn’t allow their heads to drop though and were nearly back into the game from kick-off. One of many new signings Helen Ogle found space after tricking the defender with her quick feet, but her eventual shot went just over.
The hosts very nearly added a third after coming close once again but this time the ball smashed against the crossbar and was cleared. Moments later the visitors came the closest they had all half to scoring after Sheena Nichol took aim from afar, but she agonisingly saw her shot rattle against the top of the goal.
HT: AFC Portchester 2-0 Woking
In the second half, Roz made a fantastic save to deny the Royals before the ball then rolled to an oncoming player but was brilliantly cleared off the line by Laura Mitchell.
Woking managed to pull one back just before the hour mark though when Kaitlin’s burst of pace down the right-hand side saw her get past her defender and then her eventual cross shot flew into the back of the net. Last season’s top goal scorer opened her account for the new campaign right where she left off.
The momentum had very clearly swung in the way of the visitors and after building up from the back, Sheena was desperately unlucky again to see her forceful shot from outside the box smash against the bar. If it had been an inch lower, then it would have been a remarkable quick-fire comeback.
It wasn’t to be however as just a minute later, Currie completed her hat-tick in the most astonishing way as she pulled the trigger from just inside the Woking half to catch Roz off her line and re-take their two-goal advantage.
The Cards still had chances right up to the final whistle but in the end, it wasn’t meant to be.
FT: AFC Portchester 3-1 Woking
Attention now turns to next Sunday’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup First Qualifying Round game against Leatherhead where players on both sides will acknowledge some familiar faces.
We would love to see as many supporters as we can make their way to Sheerwater’s Eastwood Centre. Tickets are free and available by clicking the link
here.
Attendance: 75
Man of the Match: Ellie Boddy
