Steve Elswood’s team moved to within a point of top spot after beating Royal Wootton Bassett Ladies 4-0, with Esme Kilburn-Thompson also claiming a hat-trick and the matchball.
The ladies made the trip up to Wiltshire to face a young and rebuilding Wootton Bassett side, who currently prop up the SWRWFL – Premier Division.With the unbeaten run standing at eight wins and one draw in the last nine league games, the Yellows were keen to be professional, organised and controlling in what they knew would be a competitive match due to the eagerness and youth of their opponents.
With United starting the game a little slower then they would of liked, it was the hosts who had a real go at them in the opening 15 minutes, but then the hosts spent long periods of the first half chasing the ball as United began to get a grip and dominate possession, with a series of chances coming in the first half, forcing the young Bassett keeper into making some outstanding saves from both the Gulls forwards and midfielders, and as well as there being some mishit and wayward shots, it was Becky McMullin who had the clearest chance when she ghosted into the six yard box between the two centre backs, but side footed her chance just inches wide of the post.
It was Connie Pengelly though who put United into a deserved lead, when she got the deftest of touches to her header to flick the ball into the bottom corner, with the assist coming from a deep cross into the box from centre back Emma Hunt. It was a tight end to the first half, but as the referee blew for the break, the Yellows went in a goal to the good.
Keen to reiterate that chances would keep coming at half time by manager Elswood and his coaching team, the ladies started the second half calm and focused, and with United being more patient and not quite so forceful they began to carve out chances once again, with some excellent goalkeeping from the Bassett number one keeping them at bay.
In the end though the pressure was just too much as United started to pick apart their opponents who worked so tirelessly, but the space in the opposition box began to open up and there was no surprise as the ball broke to Esme Kilburn-Thompson, who keeping her focus and strength darted into the box to prod home between the advancing defenders, and with the ball going into the roof of the net she doubled the lead to make it 2-0 and really seal the points for the Yellows.
Once the second goal went in United really pressed the acceleration pedal, with Kilburn-Thompson firstly getting her second and then her hat-trick goal minutes later, with some excellent inbox movement side footing the ball into the bottom right corner to complete the scoring making it 4-0. With the matchball in the bag for the striker, it capped off what was a very professional and focused performance from the ladies, who now sit in a very strong position with games in hand on the teams in and around them, and now with only one point between United and leaders Forest Green, it keeps that promotion focus to Tier 4 football on target, with the ball now firmly in their court.
Manager Steve Elswood reflected on the result and performance after the match:
“It was a very professional and impressive performance, and we controlled the game though were a little bit slow in the first ten minutes, but that was credit to our younger opponents and they had a real go in the opening quarter of the game. Once we settled down we really took control of the game, and our passing and movement was very strong and our stats back that dominance up. The team created an abundance of chances on what was a slightly difficult playing surface, and perhaps on another day we go in at the break with more then the one goal we had.”
“I’m delighted for Esme Kilburn-Thompson grabbing a hat-trick as she worked tirelessly throughout, as did our other striker Connie Pengelly, and it was due rewards for Esme to get her hat trick after a couple of games where she’s not quite had the ball fall her way. So I’m absolutely delighted that our two goal-scorers are bang in form together and growing as a partnership and they will only get stronger.”
“We know the position we are in now and we all know what we need to do, however we have to keep our focus and keep calm, and to hopefully allow the teams around us in the title race to crack under pressure against good opponents in our league, while also making sure we don’t do the same. What we have in this squad is so much togetherness and belief in each other, but if we just keep focused on one game at a time, I am so confident that we can achieve our goal of promotion and make history this season.”
Next up for TUWFC is another away trip next Sunday 5th February, when they travel to Ilminster Town Ladies FC, with that game starting at 2pm.