TUNBRIDGE WELLS 0

COLCHESTER LADIES 1

East Women's League division one south

COLCHESTER Ladies started the new season in winning fashion with victory at Tunbridge Wells.

It was an excellent win for the visitors, against a team who was relegated from the premier division, last season.

Colchester player-coach Libby Knifton said: "It was a good game, with many positives to take away.

"We're creating lots of goalscoring opportunities which is fantastic and we played very well in the new formation.

"A great start to the season."

Colchester dominated from the start with some excellent attacking play including shots from Helen Scott, Pippa Garbutt and Sophie Bendon.

But the Tunbridge Wells keeper made several very good saves though to thwart the Colchester forwards.

The new formation worked well and the calm and collected approach from the defence and midfield kept the Tunbridge Wells attackers at bay.

Woman of the match was debutante Lynn Gunn who was outstanding in defence, solid in tackles and calm on the ball.

Midfield players Frankie Harley, Karen Harris, Knifton and new captain Anne Marie Bradley worked tirelessly and marked the Tunbridge Wells players out of the game.

Following a positive half-time team talk by Knifton with a few tactical points, Colchester were ready and fired up.

Knifton scored what they thought was the opening goal from a penalty corner, only for it to be disallowed for being too high.

This really spurred on the Colchester players who continued to control the game and attack the Tunbridge goal.

The hosts' keeper again made some very good saves but the visitors' hard work was eventually rewarded when Helen Scott deflected in Harris's shot from the top of the D.

Colchester keeper Lucy Stutch was commanding and Kate Bagley and Ellie Benfield defended well.

Throughout the match the forwards sustained pressure on the Tunbridge defence.

Colchester pushed for further goals in the second half and short passes from Harley, Bagley, Harris and Garbutt helped get some balls to the attackers of Scott, Bendon and Knifton.

Bagley, Harley, Benfield and Gunn stayed solid in defence with some lovely tackles.

Tunbridge kept pressing for the equaliser but Colchester continued to work hard to create chances.

Benfield made some great tackles and got Colchester up the pitch, as they saw out victory.

Colchester ladies host Maidstone on Saturday, 2pm push-back.