A Hatrick from Klesha Darroux helped the ladies beat QPR in the League Cup and progress to the next round.

Town made 5 changes from their previous defeat at Hashtag United and were quickly on the front foot straight from Kick Off, but were behind after 5 minutes with QPR first attack of the game. A failed clearance allowed the Rangers forward to shoot and score from 10 yards to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Town were getting in some good areas behind the QPR back 3, but despite creating good opportunities to score failed to take advantage, but it was not going to be long before they were back in the game. Klesha Darroux and Che Thomas (making her debut after injury) were dangerous down the channel and their pace were causing problems for the QPR defence. Katie O’Leary was holding the ball up well and linking well with Diana Tobe. Brionne Fowle and Nuala Mckevitt were dominant in midfield and despite being a goal down the ladies looked very comfortable.

The equaliser came in the 33rd minute, and was thoroughly deserved. A great through ball down the channel put Katie O’Leary free, who squared her cross into the path of Klesha Darroux who poked the ball past the QPR Keeper to bring it level 1-1.

More opportunities followed, but it wasn’t until the 43rd minute when Town went ahead. A superb though ball from Brionne Fowle split the QPR defence and Klesha Darroux rounded the keeper and tapped the ball into the empty net. 2-1 up before the break and a good first half performance.

The second half started the same as the first with Town once again very dominant in possession. A few early chances were created but not taken until Che Thomas was played in behind the QPR defence once again on 56 minutes and through on goal she unselfishly squared the ball to Katie O’Leary who slid in at the far post to make it 3-1.

Che Thomas and Brionne Fowle were then immediately brought off and rested and replaced by Rebecca Evans and Carla Perez with the latter making her first appearance of the season. Carla bringing a physical attribute to the Town defence freeing up the midfield to be even more creative. Chance after chance being created but not taken. More substitutes followed, Lisa Fulgence on for her first appearance of the season and Alana Munro coming on to add to the pace up front both had chances to add their names to the scoresheet and the game could easily have been 7 or 8-1 by time the ladies sealed the game in the 89th minute. A solo run by Klesha Darroux cutting into the box and shooting, the GK saved it but the ball rebounding back to Darroux who slid the ball into the net for her Hatrick.

A superb team performance by the Town. They march into the next round of the League Cup.

Coach Jade Dempster Said “Last week we questioned their desire after the hashtag game, and the girls have took that on board and worked hard during the week and today we saw that desire to win the first ball, to win the second ball, play for each other and they got the result they full deserved”

The Ladies finally got their first win of the season at the fourth attempt on Sunday securing a 4-1 away victory at Norwich City.

After a long week of 3 games in 8 days, the ladies had suffered last minute heartache away at Cambridge United, and then a midweek draw at home to Harlow Town playing 46 minutes with 10 playing after a first half red card, it was case of 3rd time lucky on a long away trip to ‘The Nest’ in Norwich.

The ladies started very brightly with some early attacking combination play straight from Kick Off. A quick first time ball played out to the left to Alana Munro who cut inside to play a square ball into Katie O’Leary. She played a first time balll in to the path of Mollie Kmita who unleashed a shot from 30 yards straight into the bottom corner of the net to give the Town a First Minute lead, 1-0.

Town continued to attack whenever they had the ball, but gaps started to appear down the defensive channels which Norwich tried to exploit at every opportunity they had and for 10-15 minutes it was end to end.

On 25 minutes, Sheryce Slater took a free kick from around 25 yards which hit the underside of the crossbar, and fell to Rachel Kosky who smashed the ball over the line, only to be unfortunately flagged for offside.

3 minutes later Norwich equalised with a classic counter attack. Town lost the ball on the edge of the Norwich box, which was quickly played forward into the defensive exposed channel. Play was quickly switched to their forward who shot at an angle which was well saved by Grace Taylor only for the ball to fall into an oncoming player who shot from 10 yards to bring it level 1-1.

The remaining half was finely balanced and with the half time whistle looming, a superb reverse through ball from Rebecca Evans was played into Katie O’Leary who calmly clipped the ball over the keeper for her first goal for the club since joining from Watford, to make it 2-1 on 44 minutes and a deserved half time lead for the Town.

The second half was pretty much the same as the first with opportunities at both ends, but the best chances falling to the Town strikers who failed to add to the scoreline until the 78 minute. Katie O’leary once again causing havoc finding space in the Norwich box, when she was brought down when just about to shoot. Penalty Town. O’Leary picked herself up and put away the penalty to make it 3-1.

4 minutes later, Alana Munro found space down the right hand side, beat her defender and crossed to the left hand side of the penalty area to Katie O’leary who smashed the ball past the keeper for her hat-trick to make it 4-1 and game over (see photo).

Town saw out the remaining 10 minutes including injury time for a well deserved victory and finally off the mark for their first win of the season.

Manager Billy Highton said “A great result and performance which the ladies fully deserved and hopefully we can now build on that for next week”

Next up for the ladies is Hashtag United (away) on Sunday 5th September, followed by a home tie in the League Cup against QPR on Sunday 12th September

Our Development Team will also be playing their home games at the QE this season. They start their campaign at home on 5th September against Actonians.