Borough ladies welcomed the league leaders (Ashford) to the Richardson Evans Memorial playing fields, and what followed over the next 90 minutes was a demonstration of, and a testament to teamwork, perseverance and fortitude as the home team came from behind to register a remarkable victory. Dead ball specialist Kirsty Mulcahey scored a hat trick for Wandsworth and was voted player of the match.

The Borough team were in high spirits and wanted to make up for lost time as their previous fixture was called off due to bad weather. With the team photos taken, team talk had, we set ourselves up on the pitch for an 11 O’clock kick-off and the game was shortly underway!

Bright spells of play resulted in an early 4th minute lead for Borough, as Gemma Manley latched onto a lofted through ball from Kirsty Mulcahey in midfield to beat her defender, set up a one on one and slot the ball past the keeper. There were scenes of jubilant celebrations all around.

Sadly, the lead only lasted a few minutes. A mix up in defence gifted Ashford a goal and the opportunity to cancel out our early lead, 7 minutes played. Nevertheless, with spirits still high we went again. 10 minutes later Borough found themselves 4-1 down due to a loss of concentration and composure. However, Borough began to settle into the game with positive play and free-flowing football. A foul committed on Charlie Spencer awarded Borough a freekick in a goal-scoring position. Mulcahey effortlessly gets the ball over the wall and into the top left corner, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot, earning the ladies a well-deserved goal, 33 minutes played.

5 minutes later Ashford were awarded a penalty. In form keeper, Amy Jenkins guesses right and makes a low stop keeping the game at 4-2 going into halftime with the team in higher spirits. The spot-kick save marked a pivotal turning point in the match for both teams. With zero changes made at the break by Manager David Newland, the ladies were back out on the pitch and the second half was underway.

With a positive end to the first half that clearly translated into the second, momentum was clearly with the Borough ladies. They were marred by an early injury in defence that would see Hannah Richards convert into a centre back, Gemma Manley in midfield and Daniela Cardoso on the right-wing. 10 minutes into the second half Wandsworth were rewarded for their efforts with some great link-up play from one Manley to another! Lisa Manley delivered a fatal cross into the box leaving Ashford scrambling.

Whilst Gemma Manley gathers the ball and goes on to score. It’s 4-3! Ashford would continue to be on the back foot as Borough punished them with another goal 5 minutes later. Ashford failed to recognise the threat and no player closed down Mulcahey’s strike outside the 18-yard box.

With the game level at 4-4 it was all to play for, 60 minutes played.

At this point in the match, the ladies were in their element showing great spells of link-up play, composure on the ball and retaining possession. Borough got a freekick from an inadvertent handball (a handball nevertheless) from. As the Ashford players unsuccessfully protested with the referee it was Mulcahey who stepped up again to take the set-piece. As the ladies are set up tactically in the box the ball is delivered in, the keeper comes out, jumps to catch the ball but she can't quite get enough on it as the shot proved to be too hot to handle (see what I did there?). Borough had taken the lead for the second time in the game, 71 minutes played.

There were some nervous moments for the home team with the score at 5-4 as Ashford were pressing and delivering successful crosses with a few close calls. The ladies continued to work hard, putting their bodies on the line and blocking shots all over the pitch.

Substitute Rachel Wood’s goal past an onrushing keeper steadied nerves and sealed a memorable victory for Wandsworth Borough... phew.

It was Wandsworth's first win of the season and moves them up to *9th in the table. All the players are still buzzing and confident that the win will kick-start their season.

Borough's next assignment is in the Capital Cup (1st Round) match against South London Laces.