The U’s Women’s undefeated winning streak of the season has come to an end against National League Billericay Town.
From the opening whistle, the home team dominated possession with quick moves and exquisite switches of play that demanded a lot from the visitors’ defence.
'Keeper Rosa Devall confidently put her gloves to use twice in the first minute, courtesy of two on-target strikes from Town’s striker, setting the scene for what would be her busiest match so far.
The seventh minute saw the first goal following a cleared corner that fell straight to Town’s right-winger, allowing a cross across the box to beat Devall for a simple tap-in. The U’s were quick to respond from the centre, but were swiftly denied by a strong and well organised defence.
Attacks from the U’s continued, eventually winning a corner which was well delivered by Jenkins but confidently punched away by Town’s number one to allow further counter-attacks.
The majority of play for most of the first half saw possession largely resting with the home team, but an on-target free kick from Gamble demanding good hands from the keeper, and two impressive runs from Vinton energised belief that the U’s could deliver an equaliser.
As time wore on, Town established a greater hold on possession and dictated the style of play they wanted. The inevitable second goal came after a series of attacks, an unfortunate miss-hit on the edge of the box falling for another simple finish.
A third goal before half-time looked in the bag, but for an incredible sliding block from Pope preventing the ball reaching the net. This desire to win the ball and turn the motion of play continued for much of the game, despite the goal difference suggesting otherwise.
The second half saw a different formation from the U’s, with the wingers adopting a higher position and readiness for long balls. This in turn ruled out less attacking options for the home team and demanded more attempts from outside the box. The first to find Devall in the fifty third minute was denied by a great initial save, but unfortunately ricocheted to a waiting striker for a composed finish to the opposite side of the goal.
Heads didn’t appear to drop among the U’s, but an acceptance of fate appeared more obvious following a fourth concession two minutes later, courtesy of an impressive Town free-kick; despite the ball being parried by an agile Devall dive onto the post, the ball once again fell for a simple finish.
The fifth goal in the sixty third came from a slick counter-attack, the striker beating Devall to the ball for another simple tap-in.
Clark came on for Devall after goal six found the net eight minutes later, and she was put to work immediately with quick runs off the line and attempts to find heavily-marked wingers. Despite fantastic challenges from Newstead and Mowatt, the seventh goal nestled between Clark and the near post in the seventy fourth minute.
It took sixty seconds for the eighth and final goal to find its target, applauded by both visiting and home supporters; A diagonal cross to Town’s right-winger opened up a sprint to near the goal line, her right foot cross into the box finding a ready and waiting striker for a textbook finish.
Despite the scoreline, the U’s won a number of crunching tackles and aerial balls to dominate play around the centre circle, but choreographed diagonal balls and pinpoint crosses from the home team found holes in what has been an impressive tapestry of formation and tactics so far from the U’s.
The U’s can now focus on their league cup chances and what is looking to be an incredible domination of Division Two for the remainder of the season.
Colchester United Women starting XI: Ager, Cahill, Devall, Gamble, Howlett, Jenkins, Mowatt, Newstead, Paton, Pope, Vinton
Subs: Clark, J Morgan
Words: Matt Ager