A STRONG local rivalry was in evidence for the Angels Ladies’ league match at home to Castle Colts.
Four of the Tonbridge team had transferred from the visitors during the close season
And Castle Colts claimed two wins in friendly games against the Angels this summer.
This time, though, it was the turn of the Angels to take the spoils.
Abigail Skilton took her season’s tally to 13 with another hat-trick, helping her team to a 5-1 win and returning them to third spot in Kent Division One.
Skilton opened the scoring by turning in a cross from Rebecca Saxby at the far post.
Soon afterwards Castle levelled with a goal resulting from a breakaway down the left wing.
Shortly before half-time the Angels were able to regain their advantage, with Poppy Gilden’s high goalbound cross from wide on the left being helped over the goalline by Skilton.
The best goal of the match came just 30 seconds into the second half when some crisp one-touch passing resulted in a smart finish by Skilton to record her hat-trick.
Samantha James scored the fourth, just two minutes after coming on as a substitute, with a cool finish.
Then another substitute, Helena Fothergill, dispossessed a defender in the penalty box before firing in from close range.
Meanwhile last Thursday the Angels Ladies had gained a taste of the big time when they were pitted against Premier League opponents Tottenham for a Ryman Women’s Cup tie.
Despite a valiant effort in the match played at Cheshunt FC’s Theobalds Lane ground, the gulf between the two sides was apparent in the result, which finished 14-1 to the Premier League team.
