Hoops Make it Four Wins in a Row.

Oxford City 5

Kate Parsons 10', 47', 63'

Emily Harris 36', 57'

Chesham United 1

Kate Parsons nets hat-trick, alongside an Emily Harris double, as Oxford City put five past Chesham United in the SRWFL.

It was a relatively even start to the clash, with chances at both ends from the get-go. It was Harris with the biggest moment at both ends in the opening stages, the first as she volleyed into the side netting on five minutes, and then as she blocked an effort in a goalmouth scramble at the other end moments after. 

The game seemed destined for an early goal, and that came courtesy of Parsons on the 10-minute mark. It was an attempted block of a cross from the right side that pushed the ball into Parsons’ path, with the forward slotting home from the goalmouth to open the scoring. 

City’s advantage, however, lasted just four minutes, as Chesham hit back with an effort across goal, nestling into the far corner in the 14th minute, levelling the scoreline.

A tight affair then unfolded, with both sides looking strong in attack, but unable to break down the opposing defence. As the game approached, and then ticked over, the 30-minute mark, the Hoops were back looking the brighter side, firstly as Parsons struck from the edge of the area, an effort which was met in the Chesham net. 

Then followed a huge chance for the Hoops, as Chesham’s keeper sprinted off her line to clear, only to see Yasmin Edwards beat her to it. She then delivered on 32 minutes, searching for Harris at the back post, but the ball was just too high to direct into the empty net. 

It was those two to link up again as City did retake the lead. It was a lovely 36th-minute move that saw Edwards deliver and Harris nod home from the goalmouth, the decisive moment in seeing the Hoops in at half-time ahead. 

There was one more big chance before the half came to a close, however, and that fell to Parsons, as she struck across goal on 44 minutes, an effort which was met by a weak glove in the Chesham net. She watched as it rolled toward the far corner, but the keeper had done just enough, with the effort falling just wide, confirming just the one goal half-time advantage for City. 

Half-time: Oxford City 2-1 Chesham United 

City got off to a lightning start to the second half, with Parsons giving the Hoops a two-goal cushion on 47 minutes. It was Harris’ corner which the keeper attempted to punch away, but mistimed her intervention, allowing Parsons to power home her second of the afternoon. 

Then, it was Ellie White who almost made it a quick-fire double for the Hoops, directing a close-range shot into the side netting moments after the restart. 

No bother, however, as Harris added a fourth shortly after. It was a 57th-minute corner that was delivered to the back post, knocked back into the goalmouth, and then chested over the line by Harris. 

Shortly after, the Parsons hat-trick was confirmed, as White controlled on the edge of the area, and found Parsons in space. It was from there that she took a touch, and then lifted an effort over the keeper in City’s fifth. A period followed where City enjoyed most of the possession, but could not add to the scoreline. Chesham couldn’t create too many chances going forward, with a long range effort too tame to beat Flood, followed by a free-kick cleared by the Hoops’ defence the best of their chances. 

It was then Meira Ashby who looked to add to the damage, White threading through to the forward who had only the goal ahead of her, her effort drifting wide on 86 minutes. With minutes left on the clock, City were unable to add to the scoreline, but it was already a job well done for the Hoops, who made it four wins in a row, and kept their strong momentum rolling.

City XI: Aimee Flood, Poppy Gorman, Reese Ayres (Meira Ashby 68’), Hermione Prescott-Luke (Grace Craven 77’), Billie Bough-French, Grace Craven ©, Janaye Beaufort, Ellie White (Abi Whistler 65’), Angie Dunbar-Bonnie (Yasmin Edwards 26’), Emily Harris (Ellie Walecki 68’), Kate Parsons (Ellie White 82’).