LAST season’s unbeaten Cornwall Women’s League East champions Saltash United opened their pre-season campaign on Sunday with an encouraging 4-3 victory over South West Premier League outfit Marine Academy Plymouth at Kimberley Stadium.
Although Marine Academy were not at full strength, Saltash will take plenty of confidence from their performance ahead of their forthcoming debut season in the South West League Western Division.
The first half gave no indication of what a thrilling contest this pre-season fixture would turn out to be.
The first 45 minutes was played in torrential rain and chances were few and far between. Both teams hit the top of the crossbar and Marine Academy fired just wide at the end of the half, but apart from that defences were firmly on top.
However, the game completely changed at half-time and produced some stunning long-range goals.
Saltash opened the scoring within the first minute of the half and then went 2-0 up within 12 minutes with two sensational strikes.
But Marine came back and went 3-2 ahead before a strong finish by the Ashes saw them snatch victory.
Mia Lawrence, Hayley Ranachan, Nicola Champion and Katie Mace scored for the hosts, with Sam Metters netting twice for Marine, with Amber Hadrill also getting on the scoresheet for the visitors.
Plymouth Argyle’s first team were not in action on Sunday, but their development side did play Buckland Athletic at Manadon.
The sides went in at half-time level at 1-1, with Wensday Wise scoring for Argyle, but Buckland scored two unanswered goals in the second period to win 3-1.
Devon League outfit Signal Box Oak Villa proved far too strong for Cornwall League outfit Dropship, winning 19-0. It followed on from a 7-6 victory at Crediton on Thursday evening.
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