After almost a month of postponed matches, it was business as usual for the U’s with goals from Vinton, Greenleaf, Morgan, Adams and Cahill sealing the deal within ninety minutes.
The opening twenty minutes saw the U’s under the cosh from a barrage of attacks from the home team, typically sending long balls for Romford’s attackers to run on to. Newstead in particular had her work cut out for her between the sticks, but was quick off her line to rule out early breakthroughs. The U’s back four worked hard to field loose balls to the wing and turn the tide of attack, but Romford exhibited a taste for goal and kept play largely in the U’s half.
As time wore on, Vinton saw more of the ball on the right wing and used her pace to add pressure to the home team’s five-women defence, often cutting in to find Greenleaf on the edge of the box. Approaching the twenty-five minute mark, Greenleaf & Morgan’s relentless chipping away at the back line began to reveal openings until the thirtieth minute saw the U’s first decent chance at goal with a lobbed chip from Morgan requiring a fingertip save from the ‘keeper. This visibly rattled the home team and in turn roused the U’s to keep the pressure on. They were rewarded four minutes later following a Vinton one-on-one with the keeper, the ball bouncing in her favour for a simple finish.
The thirty-seventh minute required another outstanding save, courtesy of a right-foot curler from Morgan, but showed how the scales were tipping in the U’s favour. After further successive attacks, Greenleaf found the roof of the net in the thirty-ninth to confirm the tempo of play for the remainder of the half.
Any hopes of a home team resurgence were dashed in the opening minute of the second half, with Morgan sending home a deflection off the ‘keeper. As heads dropped, the U’s trademark triangle plays, exquisite first touches and ability to take on players came into play. Morgan, Vinton and Greenleaf worked well together up front with Adams in particular the biggest threat in midfield; having a keen eye to send well timed through-balls to subs Ager, Cahill and Jenkins, the team continued to carve up the Romford defence and create several chances on goal. Adams’ hard work was then rewarded from a Jenkins corner, putting her laces through a loose ball following a scramble in the box in the seventy-sixth.
Cahill was denied in the eighty-ninth thanks to another fantastic save from the ‘keeper, but the resultant corner taken by Jenkins found Cahill for a cheeky tap-in to secure a comfortable and deserved win.
The U’s next play at home to third place Rayleigh Ladies First on Sunday 3rd March.
Colchester United Women starting XI: Adams, Ager, Newstead, C Craddock-Ball, J Craddock-Ball, Farrow, Gamble, Greenleaf, Howlett, Paton, Vinton
Subs: Cahill, Clark, Jenkins, Morgan, Mowatt
Player of the Match: Adams
