City ladies brush Basingstoke aside

Cherelle Khassal shoots for goal for Chi at Basingstoke

Chichester Ladies continued their momentum in their push towards title glory with a comfortable 5-0 win on the road at a windswept Basingstoke Town.

They scored five without reply and extended their lead at the top to ten points over Plymouth Argyle.

Chichester moved Kerrie Ryan into a more attacking role, with Jess Lewry up front alongside top scorer Charley Wilson-Blakely.

The Green Army were fast out the blocks and after only five minutes they had their noses in front through the dangerous Cherelle Khassal.

Chloe Dowdell, a menace down the right, worked an opening and fired a teasing ball into the box. Everyone missed it apart from Khassal, who came in late from the left and buried her first-time effort into the net leaving keeper Erin Davis-Dunne rooted to the spot.

Five minutes later, Jess Lewry opened her account for the day, finishing well to round off another nice move. Khassal broke clear down the right before cutting in and finding Ryan in space.

Ryan unleashed a rocket which Davis-Dunne failed to hold on to and Khassal returned the loose ball into the centre to the unmarked Lewry to poke home.

The Green Army’s good work almost came undone a while later when Emma Alexandre almost scored an own goal past keeper Sadie Wilson-Blakely.

With the breeze at their backs after the break, Chichester went close to scoring through Charley Wilson-Blakely and Becky Barron. Davis-Dunne kept the greens out – but not for long.

Not long after the hour Chichester broke quickly and Khassal rushed clear. Her effort was saved by Davis-Dunne but Khassal slid the rebound to the unmarked Charley Wilson-Blakely, who knocked it home.

Kerrie Ryan soon got on the scoresheet with a rocket from long distance that flew into the bottom corner.

Kally Ambler came on for Khassal and showed good pace as Chichester continued to press.

Her quality brought a fifth for the visitors when her exquisite cross-field ball to Lewry saw her net with a sensational half-volley.

Shortly after, Wilson-Blakely was upended in the box and a penalty was awarded. Lauren Cheshire’s effort smashed against the bar and the subsequent danger was cleared by the defence.

Carmen Kager was a late introduction for the visitors and gave a good account of herself.

Larkhall will be next to try to halt the juggernaut when they visit Oaklands Park in a couple of weeks.

CCLFC: Sadie Wilson-Blakely, Becky Barron, Lauren Cheshire, Lucie Challen, Laura Ingram, Emma Alexandre, Kerrie Ryan, Chloe Dowdell, Jess Lewry, Charley Wilson-Blakely, Cherelle Khassal. Subs: Carmen Kager, Kally Ambler.

ALAN PRICE

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