Women's football: Asfordby Amateurs start season with nine-goal salvo

Amateurs have a strong squad this season, with a good blend of youth and experience, and expectations are high.

They opened their season in style in a goal-packed encounter against the unknown quantity of the league newcomers.

Asfordby themselves had several players making senior debuts, but confidence was high after a good pre-season.

It looked to be plain sailing when Lucy Whitfield scored direct from a corner early on, but a determined Beaumont equalised and then took the lead before Asfordby really settled into the game.

It took a moment of individual determination to lift the team when captain Clare Marlow ran the length of the pitch to equalise with a rare goal.

And Amateurs regained the lead with a Sarah Brown strike before half-time.

Asfordby were on top after the break, but Beaumont always looked capable of scoring.

Brown and Kat Plimmer added goals four and five, while Jade Maguire added the finishing touch to a goalmouth scramble for a debut strike.

The home team fought back, scoring from a free-kick and then a penalty, but they were overwhelmed and demoralised by Amateurs’ excellent passing play.

The visitors found the net three more times as Plimmer, whose experience and passing vision made a difference in the second half, added her second.

The pick of the goals came from Vicky Smith who followed a fine free-kick with a fabulous individual effort from distance.

There were good performances all round, particularly from Hannah Green, who worked tirelessly for the team and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, and Tara Brookes who produced a strong and confident display.

Amateurs: E. Roberts, J. Hill, M. Reader, K. Hutton, C. Marlow, T. Brookes, L. Whitfield, J. Maguire, P. Martin, H. Green, K. Plimmer, S. Brown, V. Smith.