London City Lionesses have recorded their first win of the new season in the Barclays Women’s Championship, defeating Watford 3-2 at Princes Park this afternoon.
Two sides of differing expectations went head-to-head in Dartford this afternoon. London City Lionesses have lofty ambitions of winning promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League whilst Watford have much more modest goals.
London City Lionesses have bolstered their squad with plenty of top flight experience after recruiting the likes of Grace Moloney, Danielle Carter and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. Therefore, it is clear to see what the objectives are for the team from the capital. In contrast, Watford are likely to be simply looking to stay in the elite game beyond this season. With two teams relegated from the Barclays Women’s Championship, it makes The Golden Girls’ task all the more difficult.
The opening exchanges of this afternoon’s match didn’t pan out quite as expected. Instead, it was the newly-promoted side that took the lead on the quarter-hour mark through summer signing Abbie Lafayette. The left-back arrived late onto a ball at the back post and shot first time, squeezing her effort past Moloney from a tight angle.
The Hertfordshire side’s advantage only lasted a matter of minutes with London City Lionesses reacting strongly to going behind. Connie Scofield latched onto a ball in behind and drilled a shot home at the near post. Soon after, The Pride then took the lead. A loose pass from Lafayette saw The Golden Girls lose possession in their own half. Carter found a pocket of space to shift the ball onto her left foot and she hammered her shot into the Watford goal.
There were no signs of the goals drying up in the second half. Watford lost possession in their own half once again and Boye-Hlorkah punished them superbly. The London City Lionesses midfielder spotted Olivia Clark out of position and she fired first time from all of 35 yards. The curling, looping effort left the Watford goalkeeper stranded and the ball nestled in the back of the net.
That goal threatened to take the game away from the travelling side but they halved the deficit once again just moments later. A superb ball from right-back Lucía León put Carly Johns through on goal. The Watford striker made no mistake as she drilled her shot hard and low from a difficult angle and watched the ball go in off the post.
Watford had some superb chances to get themselves something from the game but were denied by both brave goalkeeping by Moloney and an outstanding last-ditch tackle by Lois Joel. However, it was the home side who were able to come away with all three points.
London City Lionesses end Gameweek 2 with four points on the board while Watford remain with their single point from opening day.
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