Magpies bounce back in style

Harleston Magpies Ladies bounced back to winning ways in style with an emphatic 3-0 victory at Chelmsford in Investec England League Conference East on Saturday.

Having suffered a defeat to East Grinstead last week, Magpies started with a much higher intensity against Chelmsford and found themselves in front early on as Susan Wessels slotted a quick short corner into the bottom right-hand corner.

Magpies continued to push forward and break Chelmsford’s defence but could not find a further breakthrough in the first period. At the other end, the hosts had very few chances and the opportunities they did create were easily thwarted by Kath Johnson, Lucy Miller and Katrina Sitch.

Chelmsford come out galvanised for the second half and started brightly, enjoying a 10 minute spell of dominance, pushing Magpies back into their own half.

And during a long period of pressure, they almost levelled but Harleston custodian Charlotte Lee-Smith made two impressive saves to keep the narrow Magpies’ lead intact.

With Lee-Smith in top form, Magpies were able to regain control of the game and put Chelmsford under sustained pressure with a series of short corners.

And it was from two such set-pieces that Magpies put the result beyond doubt as Wessels struck twice more to complete her hat-trick.

Further chances came and went as Wessels narrowly missed out on adding a fourth for Harleston, while at the other end Chelmsford won a series of short corners in quick succession.

However, Magpies defended stoutly, holding firm in the later stages to secure victory and the points.