Saffron Walden 4, Ipswich II 0 TWO goals in each half saw Walden return to winning ways on Saturday with a good team performance, solid defending and exciting attacking play. Walden were always in control of the match as they restricted a physical Ip

Saffron Walden 4, Ipswich II 0

TWO goals in each half saw Walden return to winning ways on Saturday with a good team performance, solid defending and exciting attacking play.

Walden were always in control of the match as they restricted a physical Ipswich side to just two efforts on goal.

From the start Walden's forwards' movement caused problems for the opposition. Their lead runs created space for each other and they received lots of defence-splitting through balls from the defenders, particularly Laura Sugar.

The home side were awarded a short corner in the 10th minute and Angharad Barrett scored, slapping the ball past the keeper from the top of the D.

Some strong attacks, particularly down the right wing, and some good interplay kept the pressure up on Ipswich.

Walden scored their second when Evans timed her run perfectly to latch onto a ball into the D and smashed it into the goal corner.

Walden continued to play confidently in the second period, spreading play around the pitch.

Ipswich's only attacking threat was at short corners from which they hit a post twice.

With 25 minutes remaining Walden were awarded a penalty stroke and coach. Stef Mayle converted with clinical precision giving the keeper no chance.

Evans got her second, and Walden's fourth, slotting home with a first time effort after a strong run and pass from Sugar.

Dunmow Ladies 0, Waltham Forest 8

DUNMOW were left reeling as they were hit for eight by Waltham Forest on Saturday.

A feisty start from both teams with equal procession of the ball was short-lived for Dunmow. Forest made the breakthrough in the 12th minute.

Dunmow keeper April Cowley came out to defend and slid enabling Waltham forest to score their first goal of the match.

In the dying minutes of the first half, Forest had another break and flicked the ball into the back of the net.

The second half continued with Forest as they piled in another five goals to complete the rout.

Saffron Walden Ladies III 7, City of Peterborough IV 1

WALDEN continued their successful run in the Cambridge League Division One on Saturday with an easy win against bottom of the table Peterborough at Saffron Walden County High School.

The in-form centre-forward, Annie Withington opened the scoring slotting home a loose ball in a goalmouth melee and soon followed this up with her second. Charlotte Wisbey took the score to 3-0 at half-time.

Excitement ensued when Walden were awarded a penalty stroke, Becs Burton was elected to take it but the high flick was saved by the keeper.

Withington scored three more in the second half, notably a mazy dribble into the D, slotting the ball home through the keeper's legs.

Walden's concentration did lapse towards the end of the match allowing Peterborough to score a consolation goal.

The final goal was scored by Cat Harper, a worthy reward for her sound play in midfield.

Saffron Walden 2, Cheshunt 1

WALDEN moved up to second spot in the table with a hard-fought win against fellow title contenders Cheshunt.

The experienced Cheshunt team started the stronger with their midfield dominating the early clashes and Clair Pearce and Lorna Charge made some telling last-ditch challenges to keep the Cheshunt forwards out of the D.

Walden only had 11 players and lost Sophie Thomas with a painful hand injury after 15 minutes.

The hosts re-arranged their formation with Amy and Charlotte Huson combining well in midfield and spreading the ball wide down both flanks. Zoe Bull went on a couple of mazy runs which forced saves from the Cheshunt keeper.

After the break Walden started to up the tempo and Georgianna Coote opened the scoring with a carefully placed reverse sweep shot into the net giving their keeper no chance.

Walden eventually put the game beyond doubt with a tap in from a short corner from Tilly Sleven.

Cheshunt put a lot of pressure on the Walden defence and Lindsay Willson and Annette Fisher used their experience to run down the clock and keeper Fiona Holmes competently kicked away a couple of loose balls.

Dunmow 4, Waltham Forest 4

DUNMOW Ladies twice fought back from two goals down to earn a valuable point against league leaders Waltham Forest.

The hosts found it hard to keep the ball in the early stages and Waltham Forest showed why they have only dropped three points all season by scoring twice in the opening 15 minutes.

Dunmow were given hope when on a rare attack, top scorer, Martin Sully was quickest to react after a good save by the Forest keeper, placing the ball just inside the left hand post.

This spurred Dunmow on and were on level terms 10 minutes before half time when Sully scored his second from close range.

All Dunmow's hard work was undone straight from the restart, thanks to their inability to defend after scoring themselves.

The Forest right winger was allowed to run to the goal line before bundling the ball over the line. Dunmow almost got on level terms just before half-time but Chris Taylor's scoring drought continued when a flying save denied him.

The home side slipped a further goal behind when Forest converted a second short corner with another brutal drag flick into the roof of the net.

With 15 minutes remaining Dan Mackenzie converted a short corner with a well struck shot, to reduce the deficit to just one goal.

Then with Dunmow's dead ball set plays causing the Waltham Forest defence all kinds of problems, Dunmow played the ball onto the feet of the Forest defenders whenever possible and were duly rewarded after countless short corners.

Dunmow equalised in the dying stages of the game. With the Forest defence wary of the straight strike, they left Angus Burns unmarked and when the ball was slipped left. Burns swept the ball over the grounded keeper.