Actonians 5 - 2 Haywards Heath Town

Today Actonians welcomed Hayward’s Heath to Rectory Park. The reverse fixture saw Actonians come away 2-1 winners thanks to a couple of very late goals from Amber and anything less than a victory for today’s visitors would seal their relegation fate. Also in the Hayward’s Heath lineup this afternoon we welcomed back former Actonians player Georgia Young. Notable absentees for the home side today included Jas, Molly and Ikraam but still a strong lineup ready to chase 3 more points.

Actonians started with real attacking purpose and with just 2 minutes gone a shot from Meila needed a superb save from the opposing keeper. Tori saw her volley go over the bar on 7 minutes but just a minute later found herself closing in on the keeper who came out to block. The loose ball fell to Amber and then Shakes who found the back of the net from outside the penalty area. 1-0.

Shakes was very much in the early action with another shot 5 minutes later going wide. Then on 16th minute the same player sent a pass through to Tori who was heading goalwards and calmly finished to double the lead. 2-0.

Three efforts in the same minute with 18 gone saw Kat hit her shot wide, Tori have hers blocked and Amber sending the rebound over the bar. On 23 minutes it was 3-0. Naomi drove forward and her assist found Shakes who slotted home her second of the game. Mara hit a 26th minute free kick over the bar and in the 33rd minute the same player had a close range effort saved before Tori hit the rebound over. Tori went very close to getting her second in the 38th minute but the keeper pushed her shot onto the inside of the post and the ball bounced back out and was cleared.
In the 43rd minute Mara headed Amber’s corner into the back of the net for what looked like a great goal but somehow got disallowed. With 4 added minutes on the clock Actonians found the net again with Shakes converting from Chi’s pass but unfortunately from an offside position. Should have been 4 but a comfortable 3-0 lead to take into the break.

With the wind on their side Hayward’s Heath did attack a little more at the start of the second half but with nothing more than hopeful long range efforts as the end product. Their keeper did have to make 2 very good saves in the first 10 minutes of the second half. First from Chi and then from Tori. In the 57th minute Actonians went 4-0 up. Shakes for her second assist of the game sent Tori through who ran from inside her own half and rounded the goalkeeper before finishing for her second goal of the game. Now the question on everyone’s lips was which prolific goal scorer was going to get her hat trick first. The front two combined again in the 59th minute when Shakes sent Tori through but the keeper was quickly out to block. The first substitution was made in the 64th minute with Dom replacing Chi.

The hat trick arrived in the 73rd minute and it was Tori who got it firing home after work in the build up from Shakes and Amber. The fifth goal was followed with a second change. Camila replacing Naomi. Amber saw another effort go over the bar with 15 minutes of normal time left before Amina came on to replace Tori. Kat hit a 79th minute free kick on target but it was caught by the keeper and a minute later Hayward’s Heath pulled a goal back from a free kick of their own.
The last substitution was made in the 82nd minute with Ash replacing Kat. Actonians were then seeing the game out although the away side got another consolation goal in the 90th minute. Full-time 5-2.

A strong team performance saw Actonians get the convincing win in their penultimate home game this season. A clean sheet would have been the icing on the cakes but gaining the 3 points was the most important thing. The front line were relentless and for being involved in all 5 goals including scoring 2 herself and a couple of assists Shakes is today’s player of the match.

Next up in 2 weeks time London Seaward are the visitors to Rectory Park in our final home game of the season which is followed up a fortnight later with a trip to champions-elect AFC Wimbledon.

Report and photo by Neil Hayward.