A strong wind, cold, heavy rain and muddy pitch were the main challenges for the Ladies' development team and their opponents in Sunday’s clash with Alton Ladies. The conditions made for a scrappy encounter, but one in which the young Chairgirls team thoroughly deserved to win, based on their greater possession, attacking intent and chances created, ultimately claiming a 3-2 victory.
Wycombe took the lead with a superb first half strike from Katie Thorne, from a corner on the right, which she met first time, just inside the box and steered it arrow like into the top of the net. This lead was quickly cancelled out with Alton capitalising on the hosts’ failure to clear a straight long bouncing ball, and their forward finished adeptly from 18 yards.
Wycombe hit the post just before half time with a strong strike from Halle Poland, from 20 yards, and had had enough pressure and chances (playing with the wind) to go in at half time ahead but the half ended all square.
In reality the Chairgirls looked the more threatening through- out the second half, and whilst Alton snatched a late second and forced three late corners for Wycombe to defend resolutely, Wycombe had generally kept Alton ‘at arm’s length’.
Both sides could not be faulted in terms of effort and commitment, in awful weather, and the game ended with the Chairgirls deservedly picking up the points.
Team: Whittle; Hughes, Knock, Coward, Shah, Baker, Poland, Thorne; Johnston, Ball, Chowdhry.
Subs: Winfield, Day
