Back to winning ways with victory over Liverpool

Cruz Fuller-Fagan hit a brace on her return to the Women’s Under-19s to secure us a 2-0 win over Liverpool in the Professional Game Academy League Division Two on Wednesday afternoon.

Fuller-Fagan, who joined Dulwich Hamlet on a dual registration last month and has been playing regular minutes at senior level, returned to the starting XI and handed us the lead midway through the first half at Hotspur Way to open her account on her first appearance in the PGA this term.

That quickly became two goals for the forward as she reacted quickest to force home Mia Endacott’s corner at the near post. We controlled the second period to see out our two-goal advantage, but the visitors were handed a glimmer of hope in the closing stages when the referee pointed to the penalty spot. However, Erin Radbourne was on hand to deny Hannah Cosgrove from the spot, preserving her clean sheet to earn our first three points in the second phase of the competition.

Looking for a response after the heavy defeat to the Foxes last time out, we tried to make an early impact in the proceedings, Grace Breen sending a free-kick from around 30 yards out, from a central position, straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. However, it was the visitors who carved out the better opportunities in the opening quarter of the game, Tia Whelan and Scarlett Leary both trying their luck from distance but failing to hit the target before Radbourne was called into action on 16 minutes, pushing Whelan’s shot from a tight angle on the left over the bar. While, at the other end, Kendra Brown curled over the bar from the edge of the box after good build-up play from Amie Bush and Eloise Summers-Mee.

Then, on 25 minutes, we opened the scoring when Rania Oukriss produced a darting run into the box before sending a low cross from the left, which was not originally dealt with by the Liverpool defence and Fuller-Fagan was on hand to poke home from close-range for her first PGA goal of the campaign. The Reds searched for an instant reply, Leary’s low drive hitting the woodwork before Giaan Pilgrim created space on the right of the box with some good footwork, but her left-footed shot was routine for Radbourne.

We almost made it 2-0 when Lucy Barraclough’s cross from the right looped into the air after a deflection inside the area, Summers-Mee managing to get a strong head on the ball but Heidi Morgan was at full stretch to push around the post. Endacott was introduced at the break and, three minutes into the second period, she played a key part in our second goal of the afternoon. Endacott delivered a corner from the right and Fuller-Fagan reacted the quickest to beat Morgan at the near post and force the ball home to double our lead. Oukriss, who was playing just her second competitive match since her return from injury, curled wide from the edge of the box before, shortly after, she sent a cross from the byline to Endacott at the back post but she was unable to make a clean connection on the volley.

Liverpool searched for a way back into the contest in the final quarter-of-an-hour, Breen producing a much-needed block to deny Pippa Ellis from inside the box, but with just five minutes left in normal time, they should have pulled one back as a long-ball over the top set Chloe McHugh through but her low drive from the right of the six-yard box went wide of the far post.

However, a minute later, the away side were handed a potential lifeline when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Cosgrove’s shot struck the arm of Blue Bartlett-Antwi. The Liverpool forward stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent a powerful effort down the middle, but Radbourne was equal to it and got a strong hand to push the ball away and preserved our first clean sheet since early September.

"We set the standard today - it felt like a more mature and controlled performance"

Reflecting on the performance, Head Coach Sabiha Jamal said: “The biggest thing we wanted from this game was a reaction off the back of last week, so to come out with a 2-0 win against a very good and aggressive opposition, who we knew could cause us problems, is massive for team morale and our confidence. We were consistent throughout the 90 minutes across all elements, in and out of possession, running in between transitions, and we competed for every ball. We set the standard today - it felt like a more mature and controlled performance. A massive well done to Cruz with her two goals and the big penalty save from Erin at the end to keep out clean sheet and withstand any late pressure.”

Midfielder Rania Oukriss said: “It was pleasing to show a good performance today by wining but also preserving a clean sheet. It cements, not only for us but for the league, the fact that we’ve quality in offensive areas and also defensively. It was about proving to ourselves and putting us at a high-standard in terms of performance, so hopefully we can use the momentum for next week and finish on a positive before Christmas. I’m really pleased with not only myself, but the team.”

On her return from injury earlier in the season, she added: "It was difficult to accept the fact that I’d been sidelined with a long-term injury - having just come back from one not much earlier in the year. However, I took my rehab very seriously and my return was always inevitable, so I was excited to return to the where I’d left at. Playing today was refreshing as it was a good opposition at home, with some very good minutes - I felt fit, fresh and sharp. I’m just pleased now that I can get back to doing what I can do for myself, the team and the Club."

Match data

Goals: Spurs - Fuller-Fagan 25, 49.

Referee: Thomas Amber.

Venue: Hotspur Way.

Weather: Sunny with a cold breeze, 11 degrees.