Despite being the more dominant team, Eastleigh FC Women fell short in a defeat to Oxford City Women in what is only the second game of the season.
The Spitfires hosted Oxford City Women in their first home game of the season and it was the team in blue who found themselves having the majority of the ball.
In the 7th minute, Hannah Peachy found herself free on the left wing and played a delightful through- ball to Catherine Browning who slotted it past the keeper.
A dangerous corner from Sarah Bradshaw in the 12th minute saw the Oxford keeper having to palm it away from the goal as Eastleigh had most of the possession.
The Blues seem to be getting a lot of joy down the left side of the pitch with Lucy Coalter finding herself free most times.
20 minutes gone and a throw-in for Oxford on the left-hand side found a player free who took a shot on goal which was tipped away by keeper Sarah Kelsall however the ball fell to Stephanie Ferreira who tapped it in from a couple of yards out
Just past the half hour mark and Coalter tried a looping effort from just inside the box which just sailed over the top of the bar.
A substitution was needed for Oxford as Jasmine Allen went down injured and could not continue and therefore was replaced by Summer Major, scored still remained 1-1.
Into extra time of the first-half and goalkeeper Kelsall was forced to make a close range save to keep the game level.
The Spitfires looked to start the second half like they did the first, keeping much of the ball.
10 minutes into the second half, substitute Lani Dickinson cuts inside and shoots just wide of the goal. Eastleigh still look the more dominant team.
Oxford took the lead in the 67th minute when Karima Elouath’s shot from long range beat Kelsall and found the back of the net.
The vistitors were not in the lead for long when a through ball was played to substitute Dani O’Leary who took it round the keeper and passed it into a empty net, scoring on her first senior appearance for the Spitfires. Score was now 2-2.
Oxford regained the lead when Ellie White’s right-footed shot from outside the box found the top right corner of the goal.
Eastleigh looked for an equaliser however could not produce anything and narrowly lost the game 3-2.
Eastleigh Women: Kelsall, Hill, Phillips-Foreman, Littleboy, Bradshaw, Metcalfe, Bates, Peachey, Browning, Coalter, Bell-Jack Subs: Gardiner, Dickinson, Laiolaw, O’Leary, Whalley
Goals: (Browning, O’Leary | Ferreira, Elouath, White)
Report by Tom Goward
