On Saturday Clifton Robinsons Women’s 1 made the trip down the M4 to play Reading in the EHWPL: Game 2 of the season. After a close loss to a strong Surbiton side the week before Clifton were hoping to get their first points of the new league season against a side who finished in the top 4 last year.
The first half was a tight and cagey affair, with Reading having more of the territory but Clifton fighting hard and defending with resilience. Captain and goalkeeper Aline de Visser made several outstanding saves and the first quarter was evenly matched and it was looking that the scores would remain level at half time.
In the 29th minute of the first half, the deadlock was finally broken in the minute when Caroline Spence scored from close range. Clifton had their chances in the first half but didn’t manage to convert: still all to play for in the second half.
After the interval Reading pressed again with Clifton looking to breakaway and equalize. The turning point of the game came in the 46th minute when Reading scored their second goal and followed this up with a superb strike in the 52nd minute to make it 3-0. Despite three Green Cards for Reading in the half Clifton couldn’t take advantage of the extra player and the game finished 3-0.
Three young Clifton players made their National Premier League debut in the game: Charlie Milsom, Emilia PuddIcombe and Jaz Porter with Emilia going close in the 4th quarter, only to be denied by GB and Scotland keeper Nicky Cochrane.
Eyes now turn to next weeks game at home to Bowdon: 12-15 at Clifton College.