Pershall Park was the destination for the Bucks women and their final game of the league season. Eccleshall ladies were the hosts as both sides looked to pick up a win to end the league season. For the Bucks it was a warm up ahead of the Tom Farmer Cup final this week having also suffered back to back league defeats against Lichfield City and Hednesford Town respectively.

Just 55 seconds were on the clock when the deadlock was broken and it was the away side that struck the first blow. Good work from Meg Jones in the centre of the pitch saw her through ball find Sasha Woodhouse who had sprung the offside trap. Sasha remained calm to finish, off the post leaving the keeper stranded. On 4 minutes the Bucks doubled their lead courtesy of the head of Jem Smith. An inch perfect in swinging corner from Abby White picked out the head of Smith who had the simple task of heading home unmarked. 

Not to be outdone, the hosts got one back from their own corner as the player beat her marker to powerfully head home from 4 yards. Despite the setback it was Telford that continued to control the game creating a number of opportunities to restore the two goal lead. That was achieved midway through the first half. A mazy run from Abby White picked out Woodhouse on the edge of the box who in turn found Liv Green. A deep cross from Liv was parried by the keeper onto the head of Liv Bellamy who couldn’t miss from a yard out.

HALF TIME | Eccleshall 1 AFC Telford 3

The second half continued much like the first as the Bucks looked to add to their goal tally and secure the game. 10 minutes into they did so. A cross from the left hand side evaded everyone before being picked up by Abbie Baldwin on the far right hand edge of the box. She unleashed a strike that sailed over the keeper nestling into the bottom corner. Following this, Dunn, Richards and White all had great chances to extend the scoreline but were to be denied by last ditch defending or saves from the Eccleshall keeper. 

Much like her first, with 20 minutes to go Sasha grabbed her second of the game, this time collecting a great through ball from Abby White. With the keeper rooted to the spot, she finished calmly. With just under 10 minutes of the game remaining, the home side grabbed a consolation as a cross come shot evaded the fingertips of Mia Bansal in the Bucks goal.

FULL TIME | Eccleshall 2 AFC Telford 5