Fleet sign off with win

2:31pm Thursday 15th May 2008

Ebbsfleet United Ladies 3-1 Long Lane

ON A baking hot day which felt similar to a pre-season summer match, Fleet Ladies rounded off their season with a win against rivals Long Lane.

Ebbsfleet Ladies finished the campaign in a creditable second place and just one point behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur, but they must feel it was a league they could have won if consistency of squad availability had favoured them more.

The match was, as expected, very even and hard-fought for the first half as neighbourly rivalry always dominates this close derby clash.

Long Lane opened the scoring early in the game before Fleet striker and captain Kelly Philpott and winger Kayleigh Weeding hit the bar.

Manager Shaun Edwards made three substitutions at half-time and Fleet got their deserved equaliser on the hour with a well-taken penalty from defender Tamar Upton.

In the heat of the day, the match began to take its toll on players.

But just as the pace began to slow, Ebbsfleet scored one of the goals of the season after 70 minutes with an eight-pass move involving five players and finished with Philpott rifling an effort into the top corner.

Defender Emily Wells completed the satisfying afternoon by scoring with five minutes remaining.

Squad: Faye Baker, Tamar Upton, Vicky Moore, Claire Gibbons, Hannah Chambers, Lorraine Grinyer, Kelly Campbell, Kelly Philpott, Harriet Hills, Vic Wipfler, Kayleigh Weeding. Subs: Rebecca Pattenden, Mel Bishop, Jules Teague.

Explore News Shopper