Our new Women’s Team under the Management of Tom Clingo and Jacob Bennett are now very much into their competitive phase of season 2024/25. After a round of exciting preseason friendlies, the squad played out a tough two nil league loss against bookies favourites Oakwood last Sunday. This weekend they showed their full potential with a progressive Three Two win at Worthing Town Fc.
The game kicked off at 4pm on the wonderful 4g surface of Palatine Park Football Centre Worthing. High cloud cover and a stiff breeze gave an autumnal hint however it stayed dry all through the afternoon. Both teams started the match quite slowly with possession shared in the defensive areas. Hill did start to show some flair down the left wing the ball being pinged nicely across the penalty box. Mid way through the 1st half Hill were awarded a free kick some 20 yards from goal. Our Centre Half, Ellie Livingstone hammered home high into the net to open the scoring.
They say your never more vulnerable than when you have scored. That theory was true as straight from the kick off Worthing broke forward to slam home the equaliser. That spurred the visitors on again and as HT approached the Hill right winger, Millie Morley, neatly pounced on an inviting rolling ball across the box to smash home from 10 yards.
Hill had been culpable of some slow starts to the 2nd half. However, lessons appear to have been learned. The ref blew his whistle and Hill tore forward. With in a min of the restart our left winger forced a keeping error and Brogan Kirk eagerly forced home the perfect poacher’s goal. Making the score Hill three Worthing one.
That goal set up a grandstand 2nd half as Worthing showing some real quality. They played with conviction and a sense of purpose which was lacking in the 1st half. They attacked down both wings leading to crosses from the byline. However, the Hill keeper was more than capable dealing with the onslaught. In one passage of play she had to plough through a heap of bodies to claim a high ball and received a slight injury for her troubles. With 10 to go the Worthing striker found a yard of space to send an exquisite lob into the Hill net. That was as good as it got for the hosts as the Hill defence stood firm including a towering header from a last min corner. Que celebration on the final whistle as Hill held out three two winners.
Tom quipped ‘It was stressful, and it has taken 5 years off my life! Then added ‘I was proud of the team as we found some real character against a team in a higher league. We wanted to come here and produce a cup upset!’ Jacob said ‘The team adapted well to all the situations today and that performance was high energy’ Tom added ‘hopefully the team will be buzzing and we can take this into the next few games!’
We also caught up with Player of the Match left back Lucy Neil ‘We have had our ups and downs in preseason and its amazing to get that 1st win today. It’s a learning experience and we go again!’
Our Women’s Team are back in League action on 29th September when on the road to Whitehawk. They are an exciting and welcome edition to the Hillian family this season so why not make a date to travel and cheer them on.
