In a week that saw Molly Clark nominated for the Best Women’s Player of the Year by Beach Soccer Worldwide, her goal handed Chichester City Ladies a win over Cardiff City Ladies.
Chichester controlled the early stages of the game with Tash Stephens looking bright on the right wing.
Hollie Wride and Clark both struck shots from distance but failed to test the keeper.
Clark looked to have given Chichester the lead when she followed up Gemma Simmonds effort but she was judged to be offside.
Photo: Sheena Booker
Despite Chichester pinning Cardiff back for large parts of the first half, the blues still posed a very real threat on the break and had it not been for Lauren Dolbear pulling off a vital safe after 35 minutes then Cardiff would have gone ahead against the run of play.
This close call was the kick up the backside that Chichester needed as they responded by upping their game further and in the 40th minute Clark scored with a bicycle kick from close range. This is how it stayed until half time.
Photo: Sheena Booker
Cardiff possess a number of senior Welsh international players and you would expect them to come out stronger in the second half and that is exactly what they did. They put the Chichester defence under pressure without really testing Dolbear.
The second half was closely contested by both sides and not the most exciting for the spectators.
Chichester manager, Aaron Smith, went looking for a second goal to kill the game off by bringing on Helen Ogle for Gemma Simmonds. They were unable to find a second goal so Sharna Capel Watson and Lauren Clark came on and helped Chichester see out the match and send Cardiff home empty-handed.
