Boro ladies start with a win

3:56pm Monday 1st September 2008

Haringey Borough Ladies 3 Stevenage Borough Ladies 1 . . .

Eastern Region League Premier Division . . .

HARINGEY Borough Ladies opened their competitive season with a game against one of last season’s promoted teams in a match which always looked capable of going either way.

Stevenage had the better of the first half, often finding space to exploit down Haringey's flanks and keeping sweeper Sarah Cleary and central defender Valene Simon busy throughout.

Fortunately, their finishing was not up to the standard of their approach work and debutant keeper Cherkish Young dealt confidently and competently with everything which came her way.

By contrast, Haringey never got a shot on target to test the visitors’ keeper.

After the interval it was a different story, with Natasha Adjobia, Christina Oshodi and Marianne Sheena using their considerable experience to take charge of the midfield proceedings.

Up front, Aishah Bolaji battled away energetically and it was she who created the first goal midway through the half, as she powered her way through several challenges after latching on to Young’s long clearance kick and, when finally dispossessed near goal, Katrina Smith, who had also raced forward with her, was in position to slam the loose ball into the corner.

Sheena sent a powerful shot inches over from the edge of the area, as Haringey now appeared to be in control, but Stevenage were far from finished and deserved their equalizer when a corner from the right caused confusion in the Haringey area and Cara Breckenridge slammed it home.

A draw looked the most likely outcome for a while, but Haringey stepped up a gear and, ten minutes from time, Sheena sent a wickedly dipping shot over the ‘keeper’s head from some 25 yards out. Not content with that, five minutes later, she fired a pile driver from the edge of the area which the ‘keeper could only palm into the top corner, and Borough comfortably played out the remaining few minutes to secure maximum points.

Borough: Cherkish Young, Karla Parker, Valene Simon, Maria Gomez (Aime Davies), Sarah Cleary, Annika Quartey, Katrina Smith, Christina Oshodi, Natasha Adjobia, Marianne Sheena, Aishah Bolaji.