Chairgirls take home three vital points to move up to second in the league!
Sunday saw the Chairgirls get back to winning ways as they executed a 3-1 win over hosts Woodley. Axelle Courlander claimed her first of the campaign and Kayla Potter added two to her season tally to secure all three points on the road and send Wycombe up to second in the league.
A fairly even contest at the start of the game saw both sides make runs into their final thirds in attempt to gain the opener. Chairgirls goalkeeper, Amber Taylor, denied the hosts’ first shots at goal with calm collection to maintain the goalless scoreline in the opening quarter.
As both sides battled to get ahead before the half-time break, Wycombe were the ones to convert first in nice fashion in the 37th minute. It was Potter who made a fantastic run from inside the Chairgirls’ own half and down the right channel to allow her to square the ball in from the edge of the box. Courlander found herself on the receiving end of the assist and toed it across the line and into the top of the net for her first goal of the campaign and claimed the advantage for the visitors.
The Wanderers doubled their lead in the first minute of added time with play built up from a left, out-swinging corner delivered by player of the match, Danielle Puddefoot. A few touches from both sides were taken within the box, but it was Potter who made work of a loose Woodley touch to pelt home and make it two 2-0 going into the break.
It was a quieter second half despite both sides converting later in the game but the Chairgirls were first to make it 3-0. Having been awarded a freekick from 25 yards out, it was Puddefoot who stepped up to deliver. Her initial hit was taken into the box and punched away by the Woodley keeper to allow for play to build up out wide by Ailish Carolan and Eman Kassem. Kassem’s cross into the box was cleared by the home side’s defence but only as far as Potter who was able to strike it home and extend the Chairgirls’ lead even further.
The home side were able to claim one back 20 minutes before the final whistle as a looping hit netted behind Taylor in goal, to finish the game 1-3.
Chairgirls manager, Carl Simon, reflected on his side’s strong performance, stating, “It was always going to be a really tough test. Woodley always make it a competitive game, a physical game, and that’s exactly what we faced today but we’re really happy with the outcome in the end.”
The win sends the Chairgirls up to second in the league table with 23 points, as third place Portchester follow closely behind on 22 points with a game in hand.
The Wanderers now face a break in league action as they take on Penn & Tylers Green Ladies in the rescheduled quarter final of the Berks & Bucks County Cup, following postponement due to weather in November.
