Actonians 3 - 3 London Seaward

The last home game of 2023/24 saw London Seaward visit Rectory Park. A fixture last season which became a battle for the third spot that Actonians took in the end. Heights that haven’t quite been reached in this campaign by either side. London Seaward ran out 3-1 winners at their place on the first day of this season while Actonians were going through a bit of a transition period so the home side will be hopeful of reversing that scoreline today.

They would have to it without some key regular players that were missing from today’s squad including Mara and Meila and with just 2 outfield players on the bench.

It was a bad start for Actonians conceding a very soft goal as early as the 2nd minute. However the score was level on 8 minutes. It was the familiar combination of Shakes and Tori when the former played the ball through for the latter to take around the keeper and slot home. Tori had another shot 3 minutes later which went wide of the target. Unfortunately in the 19th minute Shakes went down with what looked like a potentially serious injury and was unable to continue. We wish her a speedy recovery. Ikraam came on in her place. Until added time at the end of the first half neither side had a goal attempt apart from a Seaward player heading what looked like a clear cut chance wide. In added time Ikraam, Amina and Jas all had shots blocked and Amber had one collected by the keeper. Half-time 1-1.

The home side came out with more purpose at the start of the second half with a Dom shot after a short corner deflecting wide and Amina and Jas firing shots wide. On the hour Actonians did take the lead for the first time. Despite the keeper getting her hand to Amber’s shot from outside the penalty area it still found the corner of the net. Ikraam had a shot deflect over the bar on 64 minutes but a minute later Actonians extended their lead. The Seaward keeper could only parry Olivia’s free kick and Amina smashed the rebound home. This was followed by a long stoppage due to the Seaward keeper being injured and it was eventually decided that she was unable to continue. A matter of minutes after restarting Seaward pulled a goal back.

Actonians had a number of attempts to try and restore their 2 goal advantage. Amber had a shot tipped over in the 80th minute, Ikraam volleyed over the bar just after that and the keeper saved from Dom on 85 minutes. There was 11 minutes added on due to a number of stoppages. Plenty of time for Actonians to seal the win or Seaward to get the draw. On 93 minutes Jas had her shot saved. As the clock continued to tick Chi replaced Amber in the 97th minute. Seaward got their equaliser in the 98th minute leaving Actonians very little time to find a winner. The last touch of the game on 101 minutes was a shot from Amina going narrowly wide. Full-time 3-3.

Seaward would be the happier of the two sides with the draw after snatching that late equaliser while the last home game for the Actonians felt like a bit of an anticlimax with victory looking very much on the cards. The biggest concern today though is how serious the injury to Shakes is and hopefully it is not as bad as it originally looked. Player of the match this afternoon was Olivia. A consistent performer at the back all season and today was no different despite not having Mara beside her. She took on free kick responsibilities as well, one of which created the third goal. Two weeks to go for the last game of the season when we visit Plough Lane to face Wimbledon who were crowned champions today to try and gatecrash their party and end our own season on a high.

Report by Neil Hayward