St Albans Ladies 0, Harleston Magpies Ladies 3HARLESTON Magpies remain in third place in the league after this 3-0 away win and they had plenty of chances to have added to the score.

St Albans Ladies 0, Harleston Magpies Ladies 3

HARLESTON Magpies remain in third place in the league after this 3-0 away win and they had plenty of chances to have added to the score.

Magpies started the game well and were the first to create scoring chances with St Albans saving a shot on the line from Debbie McAllen and Angie Wheelhouse going close from a narrow angle.

Gradually, St Albans came back into the game and in the final 10 minutes of the first half gave the Magpies defence a very uncomfortable time and certainly had chances to score.

During this spell Lucy Hayman in goal made several useful saves and the team lost its composure and marking in the final quarter of the pitch.

Magpies were fortunate to survive this difficult spell and against the run of play took the lead on the stroke of half time. Emily Wilford's reverse-stick cross was deflected by a St Albans defender into the path of Verity Blyth who made no mistake.

St Albans were never the same team in the second half as gaps started to appear in the St Albans defence as the midfield took control , with Bryony Lund in particular having a strong performance, whilst Charlotte Harrison looks better every game after her come back since Christmas.

The forwards were now finding the spaces that were not there in the first half. Two early crosses from Emily Wilford on the right picked out Verity Blyth who went close.

Angie Wheelhouse's stick work was increasingly troubling the St Albans defence and she settled the match by scoring the second goal on 58 minutes as she dribbled into the circle and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

This was nothing less than Magpies deserved and with St Albans receiving a yellow card at the same time they were now struggling to contain Magpies.

Cherry Seaborn had several darting runs into the circle but just could not finish it off. On the rare times St Albans troubled the Magpies defence Lucy Fields made some timely tackles.

Emily Wilford scored the third goal on 66 minutes to cap an excellent all round individual performance and bring some reality to the score line.

This week Magpies play Chelmsford at home on Sunday, starting at 12.30pm.