Chichester ladies enjoy Cheltenham festival of goals

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Southampton Ladies 4 Chichester Ladies 1

Chichester Ladies 5 Cheltenham Ladies 1

After their 2-0 loss at Exeter, Chichester City ladies made the short trip to play Southampton.

Chichester began in control and during the first 30 minutes, Southampton struggled to get out their own half.

A string of chances saw Kally Ambler and Lauren Cheshire strike the woodwork three times. Ambler finally opened the scoring with a wonder strike from nearly 25 yards that flew into the top corner.

A Southampton free-kick from the edge of the area went under the wall and caught everyone off guard and nestled into the net.

Southampton got their second when a long-range free-kick looped into the goal.

In a ten-minute second-half spell the home side added two goals, the first from a quick counter attack and the second from a corner.

Chichester battled on but were unable to convert any opportunities.

Sunday brought Cheltenham Town ladies to Oaklands Park.

Chichester again started brightly and centre-back Emma Alexandre opened the scoring by nodding home Cheshire’s corner.

Ambler was next on the scoresheet to make it two inside a week for the striker.

Naomi Greene made it 3-0 with her first goal for the club as she cut inside and placed home an accurate shot with her left foot. It was 4-0 at half-time after Cherelle Jameson got her first for City when she swivelled inside the box to finish a loose ball from a corner.

Cheltenham came out all guns blazing in the second and managed to pull one back when they were awarded a dubious penalty.

Greene restored Chichester’s four-goal advantage when she again beat a player inside the box and converted a right-foot shot.

City ladies are at home again this Sunday in league plate action against Leicester City ladies. Kick-off at Oaklands is 2pm.

Crystal Palace Res 1 Chichester City Ladies Res 1

Chichester were looking to start well against Crystal Palace and Abbey Shrubb, brought in up front with Lauren Ellis, were looking for the first goal of the new season.

Palace were passing the ball well in midfield and had a good threat down their right.

Chichester had the first effort when Ellis was put through but she screwed her shot wide. Shrubb broke the back-line but her powerful effort also went wide.

A Palace striker took the ball well as it came into her, span and rifled the ball into the back of the net for 1-0.

After the break, with a couple of changes Chichester started to press higher up the field and the introduction of Kerri Grant had a good impact as she played some good balls into the front two.

Amy Bailey was finding her feet and delivered some good balls into the forwards. Shrubb had another effort that went just over. Palace started to pressurise the Chichester back-line and won a few corners on the bounce, but Hannah McNamara had only one save to make.

Chichester were given a free kick about 25 yards out and Shrubb found the top corner with a delightful left-footed effort to make it 1-1.

Palace had a couple of good opportunities to score again and in the 80th minute were given a penalty for a rash challenge in the box – only for McNamara to save for the second week running.

Chichester worked hard to make sure they left with at least a point. They are off the mark with goals and points and are improving in each game.