C&K Basildon Ladies storm to sixth successive win

Basildon opened the scoring in the sixth minute, when a long goal kick by Mel Kinsalla was flicked onto Sara Sinclair who then raced clear of the Luton defence before lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.

Sinclair could have had a second goal three minutes later, heading wide after a good cross from Karissa Rodney.

However, a minute later, Basildon added a second goal when Karen Stephanou won the ball back on the half way line before finding Zoe Rushen.

She then drove at the heart of the Luton defence before laying the ball off to Rodney who curled the ball over the goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net.

After the break, Luton started in a more determined mood, as they took the game to Basildon, and pulled a goal back after 56 minutes when their striker was able to turn and run from just inside Basildon’s half before sending a strong shot past Mel Kinsalla.

Lifted by the goal, Luton committed players forward as they looked for the equaliser, but the Basildon defence looked reasonably comfortable against this pressure until the 86th minute, when a corner was only half cleared and the resulting shot hit the Basildon crossbar.

However, Basildon then made the game safe in the fifth minute of injury time when Rushen received the ball on the edge of the Luton penalty area and beat a defender before sending a dipping shot over the goalkeeper.

Basildon: Kinsalla, Will, Hinz (Lawler), Lacey, Clifton, Rushen, Stephanou, Eagles, Rodney (Wyatt), Nash Unused sub: Prior.

l C&K Basildon’s Development side recorded their first win in the FA Premier League Development League, as they beat Bedford 2-1.

Ash Denham and Lauren Knight gave the Development side a two goal lead before Bedford pulled a goal back. The win leaves the Development side in mid-table with four points from three games.