Women’s Academy take the points – with injury-hit squad

Dartford’s new Women’s Academy team travelled to London with a depleted side – but came away with all three points, this Wednesday.

With just 13 players available for selection – including a substitute goalie – injuries left Manager George Kingdon with a difficult task as they made their first ever away trip.

But it gave other members of the squad a chance to shine and after a slow start, they took a deserved lead just before half-time.

The goal came straight from the training ground, with Isabelle Edgar running up the line and whipping in a cross for Isabella Taffs to get her third goal in two games.

The team went out for the second half with the instructions to ‘be patient’ as more chances were to come and the strategy paid off, with the second goal eventually coming from a press from Isabella Taffs, who won the ball and squared it to Olivia Ajose to tap home, to make three in 2 games for her also.

The team soon made it 3-0 with a goal from Cherish Stewart smashing it in from the edge of the box after a well disciplined press.

George made a few changes tactically and then brought on keeper Lottie Kelk up front who was more than capable – and who nearly nicked a goal of her own.

QPR scored a scrappy goal in reply and then scored another, a well-worked goal this time, with Dartford seeing the game out for the final 15 minutes for a well-deserved win and the second in a row.

George, who welcomed Dan Groves as a coach to the group, on Monday, said: “There were a lot of injuries and some to key players, but all the girls that came in did a brilliant job. It shows what a talented squad we have – it’s not just the one to eleven, or even one to sixteen, we are able to go beyond that.

“The side showed a lot of maturity. They are taking the games by the scruff of the neck and really working well all over the pitch, taking on board all the information myself and Dan are feeding them.
“It was a really pleasing result and shows we are going in the right direction.”

The team takes on Procision Oxford in the league cup next Wednesday at home, time to be confirmed.