Actonians welcomed London Seaward to Rectory Park on Sunday (27 October 2024) afternoon, a fixture that has seen some very close outcomes in recent times, not least two seasons ago when both sides battled until the end of the campaign for third place.
However this season so far has seen Actonians flying high where a win today could see them go top of the league whereas Seaward have struggled and find themselves among the teams in the bottom half.
Actonians attacked from the beginning showing that they are a team with a lot of confidence right now. In the first 10 minutes they went close to scoring no less than four times. Prudie Todd Warmoth, Dior Knorr and Kat Turner very close to hitting the target while Abigail Igbavboa saw her 4th minute effort saved.
Igbavboa had another shot pushed away by the keeper with 20 minutes on the clock. The same player went on a run in the 23rd minute and when she was about to pull the trigger was brought down for what looked like a certain penalty. However the decision was made that the foul took place just on the edge of the area. Up stepped Todd Warmoth to bury the free kick in the opposite corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. 1-0. With half an hour gone Knorr beat her marker but fired her shot over the bar. Turner had a shot go wide in the 33rd minute and then in the 36th minute Knorr found the back of the net.
Offside was called although Knorr herself looked to be in an onside position while two others that possibly weren’t interfering with play had drifted off. Knorr had another effort saved with 42 minutes gone and when her shot 2 minutes after that crashed off the underside of the bar you had to wonder what the Actonians top scorer had to do to get on the scoresheet this afternoon. As the half drew to a close Igbavboa had another shot tipped away and Knorr volleyed over the bar. Half-time 1-0.
In the first minute of the second half Todd Warmoth had another free kick which went over the bar this time and that was quickly followed up with Hana Lalani shooting wide. Then in the 49th minute another very strong penalty appeal for Actonians was not given and instead a corner was awarded. Todd Warmoth sent the corner into the six yard box and Turner was there to head home and double the Actonians lead.
The first substitution was then made with Mollie O’Reilly replacing Igbavboa. Knorr went close again with her shot going over the bar followed by Amber Dredge’s 56th minute effort being saved. Two more changes were made just after the hour with Megan Page and Camila Orozco coming on in place of Merle Redhead Ling and Dredge.
Lalani had another shot blocked in the 65th minute.
The second half didn’t see Actonians create as many chances as in the first. Seaward never threatened the home side goal either and their frustration showed with a number of late challenges so the game didn’t flow as much as it had. Further substitutions were made later on in the game with Mara Bramwell replacing Olivia Clement and Naomi Graham replacing Lalani but the scoring was done. Full time 2-0.
A comfortable victory which sees Actonians go top of the league after Norwich City were held to a 3-3 draw by London Bees this afternoon.
Ironically both goals came from where penalties should potentially have been given but Actonians made the most of the free kick and the corner that was awarded instead. A superb overall team performance this afternoon from back to front. The backline was solid, the midfield was immense and on another day the front two could have had multiple goals each but their contributions cannot be underestimated.
The obvious choice for me for today’s player of the match though was Todd Warmoth. A brilliant free kick to open the scoring, a pinpoint corner to assist the second and her game overall in midfield was very strong throughout.
FA Cup action for Actonians next weekend with a trip to face Oxford United in the first round proper.
 afternoon, a fixture that has seen some very close outcomes in recent times, not least two seasons ago when both sides battled until the end of the campaign for third place.){kind=link}