C&K BASILDON earned their first away win of the season as they bounced back from the midweek defeat against West Ham at Portsmouth Ladies in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division.

Sara Sinclair, Zoe Rushen and Stacey Little got the goals in the 3-1 away win and the visitors got off to a flying start, with a goal inside two minutes.

Rushen won the ball midway inside the Portsmouth half, and slid a low ball behind the defence and Sinclair rounded the advancing goalkeeper before slipping the ball into the unguarded net.

Portsmouth responded with Brighton loanee Kate Natkiel sending in a shot from 30 yards, which went wide of the post.

Lily Mellors was denied by Portsmouth goalkeeper Courtney Trodd and Amy Nash forced a good save out of Trodd as they pressure grew.

Nash saw a 25-year curling effort tipped around the post and Portsmouth needed Charlotte Benson to head the ball out from under the crossbar as the hosts were pushed further and further back.

Natkiel forced Basildon goalkeeper Nikkita Runnacles into a good save at full stretch but, just as the home side were growing into the clash, Basildon got the next goal.

Mellors chased a long ball which had been played back to the Portsmouth goalkeeper, and her pass to a defender was won by Rushen who lofted into the empty goal via the far post.

Portsmouth halved the deficit after 62 minutes when Samantha Quayle, on loan from WSL side Yeovil Town, was able to direct a shot past Runnacles from the edge of the penalty area, despite the attentions of the Basildon defence.

Portsmouth came close to an equaliser when Gemma Hillier’s header hit the outside of the post after 80 minutes and Runnacles was again forced into making a fine, low save from Natkiel just a few minutes later.

With six minutes injury time added on, and the match entered the closing minutes, Basildon looked to keep the ball in the corner and protect their advantage.

However, Nash and Rushen combined well out by the corner flag, before laying the ball off to Little.

And the midfielder, who was on the edge of the penalty area, cut inside and hit an unstoppable curling shot into the top corner to seal the three points.

C&K Basildon: Runnacles, Stimson, Porter, Booker, Xidhas, Little, Mellors (Blowers), Rushen, Sinclair, Nash and Guyon (Bradley)