Southern Region Div 1 South League
Match day 1 v Woking Ladies (H)
3rd September 2023

After a tough but rewarding pre-season, matchday was here and it was of course our first game as a club on the Southern Region.

With squad full of a few new signings, youth players again stepping up and players returning to the group after spells away from football! It’s never easy knowing how games will pan out until your in the heat of it (in more ways than one in Sunday's heat), but I thought we coped well and deserved to come away with the 3pts against good experienced but young Woking outfit.

The first half for us couldn’t have gone better from a managers view point! We looked cohesive and played at a decent tempo albeit struggled in the heat in the closing minutes. With the starting 11 producing a good start it was great to see us take the chances created and it was done in some style but our captain EILIDH CURRIE in devastating fashion from distance not once but twice giving the Woking keeper no chance.

HT 2-0

The second half was always going to be a different story and sure enough as discussed in the half time team talk, Woking came out strongly and eventually despite dogged defending pulled one back and in some style giving Leona Cullen no chance from a wide right acute angle 2-1

With the game ebbing and flowing it was CURRIE who produced wonders with another strike this time some 35/40 yards out, giving the keeper no chance to make it 3-1. Both teams pressed and had further chances but that was the ending of the scoring, and at the final whistle both teams looked exhausted and rightfully so after a energy sapping game.

FT 3-1
POTM Eilidh Currie - Hatrick Hero who led by example.
On now to the FA Cup and Bemerton Heath ??
Mark Dugan - First team manager

Portchester Ladies Development
Hampshire County Womens League Division 3
Rushmoor 1 -12 AFC Portchester Development

Well what a way to start the season! After a long summer of pre season where the Ladies worked so hard, the new development team got their rewards today, with a strong cohesive performance in hot and uncomfortable conditions.

With the team a blend of youth and experience, the game was effectively over as a contest after 9 minutes following a stunning goal from left back JESS TIMBRELL and a quick fire hat-trick from player of the match, HARLIE JONES.

From a coaches point of view, it is how the team then move forward through the game after that and it was pleasing to see the ladies still working on the structure and game idea and continuing to push forwards. This was important to be respectful of the opponents – who were a great group showing fight and spirit until the final whistle.

Further goals followed with HARLIE JONES adding two more, including ticking a headed goal off her bucket list. OCEANA ADAMS, SOPHIE SLIMM, HANNAH WALKER and SHANIA MOORE all chipping in with single goals, whilst u18 player AMY GILLAM bagged a brace on her debut in womens football.

Only a lapse in concentration allowed the home side to score from a free kick, where we were too slow to react to the second ball, but this is about learning and so we have to take that lesson forward to next week where we aim to continue the bright start.

FT 1-12
POTM Harlie Jones - Hatrick Hero
James Jenkins - Reserve team coach