By Liam Owen
USW Women’s 1sts’ stunning comeback saw them clinch the Aldi Women’s Premier South title in a 5-2 defeat of Hartpury.
Goals from Jessie Taylor, Tate Trivett, Chloe Chivers (2) and Olivia Thomas sparked celebrations at the Sport Park after the visitors had threatened to spoil the afternoon by taking a 2-0 lead.
Emine Akkurt gave Hartpury a 26th minute lead with a cool finish and then claimed a second two minutes later despite appearing to be in an offside position.
USW were staring at ignominy at that stage, but hauled themselves level before half-time.
First Taylor beat Hartpury goalkeeper Katie Thatcher from a narrow angle. Then Chivers grabbed an outrageous equaliser from the halfway line, having hit the crossbar with a carbon-copy effort moments earlier.
Pic: Morgan Saunders
The second half was a different story as USW gained a foothold and began to dictate the pattern.
Thomas’ made it a match to forget for away goalkeeper Thatcher when she lobbed her from just inside the Hartpury half to put the hosts ahead for the first time.
And they never looked back.
In the 51st minute Chivers claimed her brace when she once again mugged Thatcher from range, sending a free-kick over the ‘keeper’s head and into the net to make it 4-2.
Vice-captain Trivett had the last word, rounding things off with a fifth goal in the 83rd minute, this one a nutmeg of Thatcher from close range.