Team pays as Asfordby Amateurs beat Harborough

Despite missing key players, Asfordby took an early lead when Brown latched on to a through ball and finished clinically.

Both teams continued to create chances throughout the first half with Sarah Anderson and Sarah Brown pressing high up the pitch and forcing errors from the visitors defence.

But it was Harborough who levelled following some uncharacteristically sloppy defending by the home team.

Asfordby regained the lead midway through the second half when a fine free-kick from Anderson was knocked in by Kira Hutton.

Another excellent Anderson free-kick was just too high for Brown to head home, but the girls increased their lead late on.

Brown was brought down in the box, but the referee sensibly played the advantage and Alisha De’ath-Eccles scored her first of the season.

Harborough always threatened, but Emily Morrison, playing in an unfamiliar position at the back, was outstanding.

The ever-improving Jess Hill kept Harborough’s most dangerous player quiet, while keeper Izzy Harrison oozed confidence to make some fine saves.

Although tiring on a heavy pitch, and with no substitutes, the girls held their concentration and battled to the end for an important victory.

Amateurs: I. Harrison (c), H. North, K. Hutton, E. Morrison, J. Hill, M. Atherley, C. Mellors, A. De’ath-Eccles, S. Anderson, S. Brown.