Palace Ladies were again on form in the FA Women’s Premier League as they eased past lowly Lowestoft Town at Bromley Football Club writes club chairman Richard Spokes.
The game was switched to the 3G pitch at Hayes Lane following the Easter Bank Holiday downpours. It was played at a high tempo and saw the Eagles show their class across two halves of quality football in front of a receptive crowd that included a number of new faces, giving women’s football a visit for the first time.
Speaking before the match, manager Dean Davenport was upbeat;
‘We are looking forward to playing on a day when many other matches are in doubt. It is great to see the supporters come down to back us, some of the younger ones, including Ben, Luke and Taylor being our match mascots.’
The visitors set out in defiant fashion, working hard to break Palace down in the midfield. However, as the game settled, the hosts were able to use their possession, pace and power to better effect, creating good chances and a multitude of corners.
The pressure soon told as the in form Gemma Bryan put Palace ahead in typically clinical fashion. This was followed by a terrific twenty yard lob, over the goalkeeper by Leanne Bell to double the lead.
Palace were now in complete control with their defensive line rarely troubled. The score line was added to twice more before break courtesy of Bryan and one from the hugely industrious Rochelle Shakes.
The second half started in positive fashion, with Pammy McRoberts joining the score sheet. Shortly afterwards, it was Bryan who added to her own and the team tally, with two goals in as many minutes which included an unstoppable twenty-five yard rocket.
With Palace seven up, changes were made that saw Liz Berkeley replace Lexie Spokes and Jade Davenport take the place of Alma Donohoe. Fully aware that goal difference could ultimately play a part in their promotion push, the ladies pressed on.
Two more goals were added to this cause, through a deft header from fourteen yards by Nicha Dyett and a fifth of the game for Bryan who completed a wonderful flowing move with a cool finish that typified another high quality performance from the player and team as a whole.
Speaking after the match, manager Dean Davenport was pleased with the efforts of the squad;
‘Today was another good day for us. The ladies stuck to their task and did the club proud. We pressed well, were very effective with the ball and scored some very good goals. What was most pleasing was our use of the ball throughout the team and how this helped break down large numbers of players behind the ball.’
Still keen not to get too carried away with remaining top of the league, Davenport acknowledged;
‘Of course, it is good to be where we are but none of us are thinking too far ahead. The old cliché of one game at a time is very true. The next match is always the most important of the season from now own. If we win, we not only take the three points but reduce the opportunities for others to catch us.’
Asked how pleased he was with the March fixtures, Davenport was clearly happy with the return;
‘We knew that after the huge effort and point taken away at Gillingham, that the next three games in the month were very important. We are pleased to have taken nine points from those three and are now focussed on the next three. These see us play Norwich home and away and a tough trip to MK Dons. Following these, we will have a midweek cup final, before our last three league games. Come the end of April, we will have a far clearer idea as to how things look. Until then, it really does remain one game at a time.’
Palace Ladies travel to Norwich City on Sunday leaving just five league play left to play against Denham, MK Dons, Cambridge, Lowestoft and Norwich.
Keep up to date with all the news from the Palace Ladies as they continue their bid for promotion here on TEB, on the their official site and Twitter.
