U’s Rampant on Return
Hastings Utd Women marked their return to action with a comprehensive 4-1 win over the visiting Burgess Hill Development Squad. It was an end to end battle as proceedings began and both sides were hungry to strike first on their return to the pitch. Grace Sanderson was the victim of early exchanges coming off injured after just 4 minutes, when she was replaced by Naomi Corrigan.
Whilst no-one dominated the U’s were on top throughout the first half. Skipper Rebecca Relf and Georgia Tibble both put efforts wide of the far post, and Molly Hill had a long range effort saved comfortably by the goalkeeper.
Despite this, it was the Hillians who’d make the breakthrough. U’s goalkeeper Sharna Greenaway mistakenly picked up a backpass, and the resulting free kick was laid off and smartly finished to give the visitors the lead. But, if you know this team you know that they weren’t going to take it lying down – and after 12 minutes of pressure the equaliser came. The goalkeeper conceded a needless corner and a typically brilliant Izzy Payne corner was duly smashed home by Molly Hill, showing the predatory instinct that made her the club’s taliswoman before the hiatus. This was nearly followed up a few minutes later by a goal for debutant Georgia Tibble, but her effort went agonisingly past the post meaning we went into the break all square.
HT : Hastings Utd 1-1 Burgess Hill Development Squad
The Second half saw wholesale changes for the side, including debuts to new recruits Blair Hamilton and Holly Carter. And it was in this second period that the U’s stamped their authority. They got their noses in front 11 minutes into the second half, with Relf having an almost identical chance to the previous one mentioned for Tibble, but Captain Fantastic managed to tuck home to give Hastings the lead for the first time on the day.
It was after this goal that the game really turned into the Georgia Tibble show – whilst she was already playing well, she took it to another level for the final quarter of an hour. Starting with her first goal…It was an absolute pearl of a strike, sweet as a nut into the top corner. Two ‘Keepers would have been struggling to save it. A wonderful effort that showcased in one moment the player that the U’s have brought in.
She grabbed her second 9 minutes later with a brilliant bit of trickery to round the ‘keeper before slotting in, cementing her as a favourite of the U’s fanbase, despite the fact they’re yet to see her play.
Overall a solid performance against a resolute side that will without doubt bring sharpness and confidence to the side.
Line Up (Subs) :
Greenaway (Hamilton), Sanderson (Corrigan), Muggeridge, Reed, Sharp (Buckley), Richardson (Carter), Relf (Williams), Williams (Hannath), Tibble, Payne (Topliss), Hill (Carmichael)
POTM : Georgia Tibble…
…Next Fixture : Eastbourne Town (H), 7/04/2021
Ry Segal