It was a five-star performance from Stevenage as they dismantled a tricky King’s Lynn Town at The Walks on Sunday. The goals were shared amongst the team alongside an unfortunate own-goal as Boro’ claimed all three points to maintain third place in the ERWFL Premier Division.
After a few early probing balls from Stevenage, they broke again down the right flank. Anna Re sent a teasing ball over the defence and Amy Makewell turned around her marker to collect the ball and slot home past Christina Vivas. That was the 30th goal of her Stevenage career and set her apart as the third highest goal scorer of all time.
With just over ten minutes of the half remaining, Boro’ doubled their lead. Kelsey Millen burst forward and saw her initial shot saved and cleared back to her, where she sent a looping shot into the top corner for her first goal at the club.
Celine Ray faced her biggest challenge of the half before the next goal. A terrific save down low when Jodie Hopkins-Duckhouse found herself alone in the area. The third goal came just five minutes later when Vicky Neal fed Becky Shephard sent a hard, high shot towards goal from thirty yards that Vivas could not keep out.
The second half saw Stevenage pick up where they left off. As they battled forward with ten minutes of the half elapsed, Neal won the ball back in the eighteen-yard box. Her little touch gave Amy Gooderham space to get behind the defence and send a low shot to the left of Vivas for the fourth goal of the game.
Stevenage continued to pressure Town and the tireless Gooderham continued to cause problems. After some excellent work down the left, she cut into the box and sent a low ball across goal that Town defender Frances Peeling turned into her own net for a five-goal lead.
Tilly Sands came the closest for Town with a low driven shot from distance, but it did not trouble Ray in the Stevenage goal. Millen and Gooderham both had late opportunities to add to their goals, but neither could find the net. In the end, it was a comfortable victory and Boro move on to next week as they continue their defence of the County Cup in Ware against Wodson Park Ladies.
Stevenage: Ray, Re, Nebbitt, Farmer, Neal (c), Price, Millen, Shephard, Greenwood, Gooderham, Makewell
Subs: Manning, Webster, Bellinger
We were fortunate to have photographer Ed Payne on hand to capture the action.
