Match report: Dunstable Town Women 1-4 Histon Ladies

Photo: Cerys Rees scoring the opening goal.

Report and photos by James Smith.

League leaders Histon arrived at Creasey Park having a 100% record of wins in the league and went home a step closer to taking the title after controlling the second half of this match.

Dunstable matched Histon in the first period but went into the break 2-1 down.

There was not much goalmouth action in the opening 15 minutes as Town competed well.

The hosts took the lead when Cerys Rees got on the end of a through ball and lobbed the onrushing keeper in the 18th minute.

A fortunate equaliser came on 29 minutes when Ella Marden’s cross from the left looped over AJ Hebburn into the far corner. Then two minutes later Histon almost scored a second when a shot flashed across the six yard box and wide of the post.

Again, there were very limited chances in the remainder of half until a minute before the break when the visitors took the lead in similar fashion to Dunstable’s goal as Histon’s Evie Nicholls lobbed the ball over the advancing Hebburn.

It was harsh on Town as they had more than competed in the first 45 minutes.

Hebburn made a fine save nine minutes into the second half by tipping a great effort over the bar.

Soon after though Histon increased their lead when a free kick from the right evaded everyone except a Laura Leyland who headed home in the 57th minute.

Player of the match Ella Rothwell was unlucky not to pull a goal back sixty seconds later when her fine shot from 25 yards hit the bar.

The game was virtually made safe in the 63ed minute when Sabrina Ghosh capitalised on an error to score their fourth.

Town had a couple of half chances to score before the end but will feel frustrated they weren’t able to match their first half performance, which was full of fight and effort.

Gemma Darvill performed heroically at the back for Dunstable and managed to keep prolific Histon top scorer Nicholls quiet for most the game. She had scored 27 goals in 18 games prior to the match.

Team: Hebburn; Smith; Cullen; Foster; Darvill; Rothwell; Surridge; Molloy; Rees; Plumbridge; Hawksworth.

Subs: Aylward-Hill; Champ; Larch; Cook & Burton.