C&K BASILDON Ladies made the long journey to south Wales to face Cardiff City but were unable to come back to Essex with any points, as they were beaten 4-2.

The home fixture had been a high scoring match, with Cardiff winning 7-4, and this match proved similar, with two goals in the opening four minutes.

Cardiff took the lead after just 60 seconds, as a free-kick beat Basildon goalkeeper Molly Povey.

However, Basildon equalised just three minutes later when a strong tackle from Paige played in Amy Nash. The striker picked out Karissa Rodney and she raced into the penalty area and beat the Cardiff goalkeeper at the near post.

Cardiff hit the outside of the post before 10 minutes had been played, with a header flying wide of the post soon after.

The hosts re-took the lead after 25 minutes, after a quick interchange of passes on the edge of the Basildon penalty area ended with a low shot beating Povey.

Cardiff hit the post again before Povey made a fine save, tipping the ball past the post for a corner.

However, it was Basildon who finished the half stronger as they came close to an equaliser. Lily Mellors and Rodney came close before Claire Lacey saw her far post header cleared off of the line.

The second half opened in exactly the same manner as the first, with a goal for each side.

In the first minute a shot from outside of the penalty area gave Cardiff a two goal lead but Basildon pegged Cardiff back again.

On 49 minutes, Nash beat a Cardiff defender to a through ball, before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper. The ball was cleared off of the line but the ball fell to Rodney who volleyed the ball into the net from eight yards out.

Basildon went searching for an equaliser, with Mellors’ shot blocked but it was Cardiff who got the next goal and restored their two goal lead after 56 minutes.

Nash's dangerous corner into the six yard box was headed over the bar as Steve Tilson’s men looked for a response.

But they couldn’t force the leveller.

C&K Basildon: Povey, Blowers (Carty), Stimson, Stephanou, Lacey, Debell (Bradley), Wakefield, Rushen, Rodney, Mellors, Nash.