Croydon Women thrash Hounslow 12-1 to win title in style

Croydon Women won the GLWFL Division Two South title in style with a 12-1 demolition of Hounslow.

Croydon had only won by a single goal due to poor finishing in the reverse fixture. After 10 minutes and early good opportunities missed by Sarah Nicholson, Sofia Abad and Emma Dyduch – along with a Nicholson ‘goal’ disallowed for offside, there was an inkling that this may not go to plan.

But Megan Webster and Kacie Nadison Singh were orchestrating the centre of midfield with passes being sprayed to wingers Maka Julios and Ni D’Aranjo as the Trams took the game to their hosts.

Ifey Chileze rode two tackles in defence and passed to Julios on the left. Julios got behind the right-back and hit a low cross to Nicholson to poke home.

Nicholson scored again in the 20th minute, intercepting a backpass and rounding the Hounslow keeper.

Singh sent a superb crossfield pass to D’Aranjo, whose first touch split the defence and her shot was well pushed wide for a corner.

Several more chances were wasted by the Trams before the third goal came courtesy of a delicate Abad header into the path of Dunphy, whose pace set her free to slip the ball under the keeper.

Hounslow had their first attempt on 37 minutes, a long-range effort that Ana Busarello plucked out of the air and quickly released Siane Francis Duncan, who sprinted through and her shot came back off the bar.

Dunphy then got clear and had a shot well saved, only for the ball to rebound to Nicholson to strike her hat-trick into an empty net to make it 4-0 in the 44th minute. With time added, Hounslow clawed back a goal.

There was more belief in Hounslow in the second half.

It was a reinvigorated Duncan, moved up the wing, who propelled the Trams forwards.She intercepted a poor pass and struck a left footer into the top corner.

Duncan hit the post before adding her second goal.

Duncan crossed for Julios to head wide before Sophie Reid scored the game’s best goal – a 40-yard screame.

Dyduch had a goal ruled offside before Reid scored from long range with her left.

Julios tapped in at the far post and then set up Reid to blast in her hat-trick.

The Hounslow keeper was then taken off and then a cross by Duncan was converted in by their own player.

Aranjo had a long lobbed effort go inches wide before Julios sealed the title and a perfect dozen, latching on to a Reid pass first time to slot the ball home.

The champagne flowed as players, officials and supporters celebrated the first silverware for this new Croydon Women’s team.

There is a three-week break before they travel to South London Reserves, and complete the season at home on May 1 against Sutton United U21s.