Ladies maintain perfect start to season

9:03am Wednesday 27th August 2008

ENFIELD Town Ladies maintained their 100 per cent start to the Premier League Southern Division season with a 3-2 win at home to Norwich City.

Norwich took an early lead through Nic Bray, only for Shannon Moloney to level from the spot just before half-time.

Rebecca Laporte and Derrie O’Halloran made it 3-1 with Gemma Farman’s penalty setting up a close finish.

Enfield boss John Abbott said: “Norwich played well in the first half and it took a while for us to settle down but when we did we looked very good and played as a team.”

Enfield lie fourth on goal difference as they and three other teams all have 100 per cent records.

Norwich took the lead on five minutes when Paige Shorten won the ball in midfield and, spotting Bray's well-timed run, played it into her path, with the latter coolly lifting the ball over the oncoming keeper.

Enfield levelled on the stroke of half-time when Robyn Downie's surging run was ended by a poor tackle and Moloney made no mistake with a well-taken penalty.

The home side took the lead six minutes into the second period when Laporte netted with a beautifully-placed effort from a tight angle, leaving two defenders on the line helpless.

And it was 3-1 on 57 minutes when Downie played the ball across the goal where O’Halloran beat Moloney to get the final touch and score.

Norwich were given a penalty on 67 minutes when Emily Lown's run into the area was ended by a clumsy challenge from Leanne Mabey and Farman sent Jo Ayre the wrong way from the spot.

But it was Enfield who finished the stronger to claim a deserved win.

Town's player of the match was Robyn Downie for a non-stop performance that provided many opportunities for the team and herself when on another day, and with a touch of luck, she could have had a hat-trick.

ENFIELD TOWN: Ayre, Demery, Gooch, Mabey (Baptiste), Marlborough, Laporte (De La Fuente), Stevens (O’Halloran), Lovell, Wilson, Downie, Moloney.

NORWICH CITY: Fletcher, Rennie, Goodfield, Farman, Parsons, Smythe, Bygrave, Lown, Bray, Drake, Shorten. Subs used: Bailey, Fuller, Burton. Sub not used: Larkins.

This Sunday Town play host to ninth-placed Bedford Town Belles at Brimsdown Sports & Social Club (2pm kick-off).