by Cole Martin
CARDIFF City Ladies bounced back from last week’s late defeat by registering an emphatic 6-1 win against a lacklustre Hounslow Women.
City required a reaction from the loss to Plymouth, and started on the front-foot from the first whistle, coming out the blocks the dominant side instantly.
Kelly Isaac was the focal point of a positive start for the hosts, but her two efforts were blocked valiantly by the Hounslow backline inside the first ten minutes.
The early pressure was mounting on the visitors, and eventually the deadlock was broken in the 20th minute. A hectic goal-mouth scramble wasn’t dealt with by Martino Chevannes’ side, and a weak clearance fell to Nadia Lawrence who smashed the ball home.
Lawrence was becoming a major thorn in the Hounslow side, showing exactly why she earned another call up to the Welsh national team earlier in the week.
Chances appeared to be in abundance for the Bluebirds, and moments after the opener, midfielder Isaac unleashed an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box to double their lead, giving the busy Gillian Kasirye no chance in the Hounslow goal.
Forward Cori Williams was linking up well with striking partner Lawrence, and she almost got her name on the scoresheet after a hopeful long ball fell into her path, but her attempted chip trickled just wide of the goal thanks to a vital hand from Kasirye.
Lauren Smith’s team added a third 30 minutes in, after centre-back Morgan Rogers stepped up to convert an expertly taken free-kick, the ball bounced down off the crossbar but referee Ashley Davis didn’t require any technology to deem that the ball had crossed the line.
The energetic Williams found herself through on goal again in the 42nd minute, and she unselfishly squared the ball to Lawrence, who weaved past a desperate defence to slot the ball into an empty net, sealing a brace for the Welsh international.
Hounslow had Kasirye to thank for keeping the scoreline down before the interval, with an outstanding tip over the bar to deny Lawrence from claiming her hat-trick.
17-year-old Grace Horrell was brought on after the break for Smith’s Ladies, and her youthful exuberance immediately showed as she was inches away from grabbing the fifth just moments after her introduction, but her low drive was thwarted by Kasirye.
The west London side refused to give up, and their resolute attitude paid off as they pulled one back in the 55th minute, a wonder strike from Sue Kamaning left Laura O’Sullivan helpless in the Cardiff goal.
Any hopes of a miraculous comeback were quickly diminished though, as the young Horrell got the goal she deserved after a superb solo effort in the 66th minute. The skilful teenager dribbled past four players before cutting in and smashing the ball into the bottom corner.
Horrell’s fresh pace was too much for a tiring Hounslow defence, and she doubled her tally in the 90th minute, sliding in to put a sixth goal past Kasirye, whose resilient performance deserved more praise than the scoreline suggests.
The win saw Cardiff move up to fourth in the Southern Premier Division. Hounslow, however, now sit rock bottom of the table with just one point on the board.
Cardiff coach James Thomas said: “A win is always important. Today is certainly a confidence booster ahead of our next fixture against Oxford.”
Thomas was also encouraged by six of his players getting call-ups to Jayne Ludlow’s Welsh squad.
“It’s great for the girls who have received their international call-ups and it’s a sign that there are opportunities there for them if they are playing well.’’
Next up for Cardiff is a home match against Oxford United Women on the 10th November, whereas Hounslow return to action next Sunday at home to Keynsham Ladies.