TONBRIDGE ANGELS Ladies recovered from a 22-0 mauling at Charlton Athletic in the Women’s Cup to record an emphatic 5-2 win over their title rivals Long Lane Development in the league.
The early stages were evenly matched, but just when the hosts looked to have taken charge of the game, a Long Lane counter-attack on 15 minutes saw the visiting forward round goalkeeper Sam Wright and fire into an empty net.
Four minutes later, however, Tonbridge equalised. Wright’s long clearance found Becky Janes, who set up Abigail Skilton to lob the goalkeeper.
There followed a long spell of dominance for the home team, including the best goal of the day.
Some excellent passing down the right set up Kelly Moran to play the ball to Janes. She laid it off for Megan Akehurst to fire into the roof of the net from 25 yards out.
Just before half-time, a Janes shot was parried into the path of Lauryn Underhill, who made sure from close range.
Long Lane saw much more of the ball in the second period but strong defending from the Angels ensured there were no meaningful attempts on goal.
Angels’ fourth goal arrived on 84 minutes, with Becky Saxby sending a ball down the line for Underhill, whose cross was met by Maisie Gibb – and she scored her first senior goal.
Long Lane pulled a goal back as a long-range free kick crept under the body of Wright, but in added time Underhill pounced on a poor back pass to score from a narrow angle.
UNDER PRESSURE
Lauryn Underhill tackles a Long Lane opponent
