Crawley Wasps Ladies rode some uncomfortable periods to run out 2-0 winners over Panthers Ladies.
Against a Panthers side still seeking their first league win, chances were carved from Wasps’ hard working midfield of Matilda Hallgren, Aston Worsfold, Zoe Martin and Nicholle Smith, but the Panthers keeper thwarted Wasps’ early tame finishing.
Visiting Panthers began to create chances, but on 30 minutes Wasps countered from a Panthers corner through Aston Worsford, who found Nicholle Smith who in turn beat the full back and picked out Toni Smith to finish well from inside the box.
Panthers had a player cautioned and from the free kick Natalie Stephenson found Worsfold and her powerful shot rocked the post. As the half time whistle approached Panthers managed to break the offside trap but failed to get their shot on target to trouble keeper Rachel Hillman.
On 65 minutes Emma Kendall replaced the hard-working Nicholle Smith and minutes later Laura Harding found space on the right to deliver a perfect cross ball for the unmarked Zoe Martin to head over the advancing keeper, and despite further chances it stayed 2-0.
Next week sees the reverse of this fixture as the hosts are moving ever closer to that first league win.
Wasps: Hillman, Stephenson, Harding, T Smith, Walker, Elliott, N Smith, Martin (Capt), Kendall, Barry, Worsfold, Ward, Hallgren, McCarthy.
Wallace Walker Player of the match: Aston Worsfold.