BLUES PUT IN A FIVE STAR DISPLAY TO BEAT POMPEY

Blues finished the week of with a five-star display and more importantly getting back-to-back wins after losing to Charlton last time out at home. Goals from Christie Harrison-Murray Lucy Quinn Lily Crosthwaite Chelsea Cornet and a first in Blue for Tegan McGowen made it a comfortable afternoon for Amy and the girls but no one was saying that at half-time when Meg Hornby and Arsenal loanee Jessie Gale equalized twice for Portsmouth but in the second half it was all blues and showed there ruthlessness and go into the second city derby against Aston Villa in the Subway League Cup full of confidence. Amy named an unchanged side from the win over Nottingham Forest.

FIRST HALF 

It just took 26 seconds for Blues Women to take the lead when Lily Crosthwaite pulled the ball back into the box  and found the Scottish Maestro and Captain Christie Harrison-Murray who slotted it home pass Jess Gray a great start from Blues.

The next chance of the game came in the 3rd minute for Blues when Chelsea Cornett’s shot went wide of the goal.

But Pompey did equalized when Jazz Bull’s ball in the box was misjudged by Ji Soyun and found the inform Meg Hornby who riffed it into the top corner pass Lucy Thomas in the 6^th minute.

Blues responded well after conceding with Lucy Quinn’s shot was straight at Jess Gray in the 8^th minute.

Then in the 22^nd a shot from Chelsea Cornet was well saved from Gray.

But three minutes later Blues retaken the lead when a great press from Blues forced the mistake of Portsmouth Ji played a through ball to Quinny and she riffled it pass Gray to make it 2-1 Blues.

But yet again Pompey equalized in the 35^th minute when Greta Humphries played a beautiful ball for Jessie Gale and her pace cause Martha Harris into a mistake and slotted it home brilliantly pass Lucy Thomas to make it 2-2.

The last chance of the half came for Blues when a Lucy Quinn header went over the bar.

HALF TIME BLUES WOMEN 2-2 PORTSMOUTH WOMEN 

SECOND HALF 

The first chance of the second half came for Blues when Rebecca Holloway drive forward and her shot went over the bar in the 46^th minute.

The next chance was when Ji shot was saved from Gray and collected the follow up in the 48^th minute.

Then it was Martha Harris turn to have a shot but went over the bar in the 58^th minute.

It was all Blues and this time it was Chelsea Cornet header went  wide of the post following Christie Harrison-Murray corner in the 64^th minute.

But Blues yet again  took the lead in the 77^th minute when Shannon Cooke delivered a great ball to Oceane Hurte who controlled it beautifully and her whipped ball into the box was parried away from Gray but landed at the feet of Lily Crosthwaite and her composed finished made it 3-2 for Blues.

But there was no comeback this time for Pompey this time when Blues made it four in the 79^th minute when Lee played it to Cornet who delightful chipped it over Gray to make it 4-2 Blues an amazing finish.

Then in the 85^th minute Blues made it five when this time Cornet was the provider  cross was guided home from substitute and a first goal in blue for Tegan McGowen and you can how much in means to her a great moment for Tegan.

The last chance of the game came for Blues when Lee Geum-Min shot went over the bar in the 93^rd minute.  

FULL TIME BLUES WOMEN 5-2 PORTSMOUTH WOMEN 

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME

A fantastic performance from Amy and the girls and fully deserved this victory against an informed Portsmouth side and the stats back it up with twenty eight shots and eight on target  and made it a great week with back-to-back wins and go into the second city derby against the Villa full of confidence but more on that in my preview. But today the girls showed what there were made out of and showed thr quality and were out of the blocks start away with Christie Harrison-Murray getting  Blues the lead inside of 26 seconds put fair play to Pompey you can see there have improved from last season getting players in like Meg Hornby Ella Rutherford & Tia Primmer and you can see by the results this season how Jay Sadler and his team have improved so much. But for blues I want to shout out a player who doesn’t get the credit she deserves and will become a fan favourite in Chelsea Cornet I think she has been brilliant since her arrival from Rangers in the summer and is being a key player for Blues this season and getting another goal and assist this afternoon and of course Lily who will no doubt clean up the awards this season a quality bit of business for the club and hopefully be here for years to come.

MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Lily Crosthwaite an outstanding performance by Lil I was worried when she get injuried towards the end of the game but was fine and hopefully be starting for the game against Aston Villa on friday.

UP NEXT 

It’s the small matter of the second city derby in the Subway League Cup its a Friday nightkick off at the Bescot Stadium and its a 19:00Kick Off.

KRO STEPHEN GILL