Oxford United Women set up a box office final day of the season with a 5-1 victory over Gillingham Women at Court Place Farm this afternoon.
The win, secured by goals from Leah Burridge, Riva Casley, Tash Stephens and two from Daisy McLachlan means that United are one win away from becoming FAWNL Southern Premier Division Champions.
The U's were quick to bury the disappointment of Thursday night, when Burridge found her 13th goal of the season in the 13th minute to earn an early advantage.
Jenna Legg set the ball off to Burridge who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from twenty yards to score her first goal since January.
Goddard should’ve had United’s second five minutes later when Jaime Gotch whipped a superb cross to the back post. The centre half connected well but headed her effort into the side netting.
United didn’t slow down and doubled their advantage midway through the half. Naomi Cole, returning to the side, delivered a characteristically brilliant corner on to the feet of skipper Casley, who volleyed home from two yards out to make it 2-0.
The best of the bunch though, came right on the brink of half time. The ball fell to McLachlan thirty yards out, who got her head up and arrowed her effort into the top right corner off the crossbar to send United into the break well in control.
There is fire in the bellies, and the U's love playing at home; if it wasn't over at the break, it was shortly after.
McLachlan took a break from scoring screamers, and tapped in from a yard out after Amy Goddard's header was parried into her path by Cara Davies in the 49th minute to make the unbeaten run at Court Place Farm safe until next season.
Gillingham were unfortunate to play a Yellow side who came into the game looking to bounce back from only their second defeat of the season, and it turned into a bit of an onslaught.
Everything went right for Oxford today. Tash Stephens and Taome Oliver came on for Shelly Provan and Jenna Legg, and those subs had an instant impact.
Stephens made it five with her first touch of the ball, sprinting in at the back post to head home Cole's cross seconds after coming off the bench.
Liam Gilbert than made two more changes, Sarah King and Iesha Swaby replacing Carly Johns and Lacy Liggett.
Gillingham did get a consolation goal in the dying embers of the game, but it didn't distract from a superb performance and the perfect reaction that will build some confidence and momentum, and send the U's top of the League heading into the final weekend of the season.
One more game to go. One more win needed to win the League. Thank you for your support at Court Place Farm this season. See you in Ipswich on Sunday.
LINEUP: Kite, Provan (Stephens 71), Casley, Goddard, Gotch, Cole, Burridge, Legg (Oliver 71), Liggett (King 75), Johns (Swaby 75), McLachlan
ATTENDANCE: 354
Report by Billy Lawrence, Pictures from Darrell Fisher
