Kelly Wealthall netted a nine-minute hattrick as AFC Basildon came out on top in a ten-goal thriller against Stevenage at Park Lane in their FAWNL Division One South contest.
It didn’t take long for the first goal to arrive as barely a minute had elapsed when Alex Bailess followed up to rifle home from outside the box after the hosts had seen a shot saved by the keeper, and it was almost two when a close range flick saw the visitors keeper save well.
The hosts then forced a series of corners and from the final one an effort was blasted over the bar, and then a good ball from the home side just invaded a run forward after the bounce of the ball beat her and went through to the keeper.
In the 27th minute though, AFC Basildon doubled their lead, as Holly Turner got in on goal and slotted home with ease, and the hosts were well in control at this stage.
The visitors finally had an opening but the shot was not got away and then the bounce of the ball ended up in the keepers arms, and then down the other end a flick on towards the near post saw the visitors keeper just about keep it out, and then the hosts whistled an effort over with their next attack.
Seven minutes before the break though Stevenage pulled one back as Amy Makewell fired a loose ball from outside the box into the net, whilst down the other end AFC Basildon fizzed a ball into the box but an effort was half blocked before going through to the keeper.
A minute before the break though the hosts restored their two goal cusion as Wealthall curled home brilliantly into the bottom corner of the net, and AFC Basildon went into the break with a 3-1 lead.
Half Time AFC Basildon 3 Stevenage 1
The second half was only two minutes old when Stevenage reduced the arrears once again when Erin Pope fired a brilliant effort in off the bar, and then the hosts then saw a terrific effort thump against the visitor’s bar.
Five minutes into the second period though AFC Basildon again restored their two goal lead, and again it was Weathall who grabbed the goal as she pounced on an error from the keeper to prod home from close range, and then she completed her hattrick three minutes later when converting at the back post following a cross from the right, and it was now 5-2 to the home side.
The visitors then sent a dangerous ball into the box but a defender did enough to put the striker off, before the hosts fired an effort from range which saw the keeper get right behind it, and then the hosts fired inches wide with their next attack.
Another good effort from the home side saw the keeper pull off a decent save, before a chance for the visitors saw them fire wide of the near post, and then the hosts curled over before the visitors saw an effort saved as the game went one way then the other, it was very entertaining indeed.
AFC Basildon then fired an effort at goal but it went just wide, before the visitors got in down the right but saw the effort fired wide of the near post, but with seven minutes remaining the visitors made it 5-3 when a free-kick from Makewell saw Pope run across the keepers view and it resulted in the ball going straight in.
Stevenage briefly fancied a remarkable comeback and almost made it 5-4 when another free kick was well tipped over, and with the visitors finishing strongly they saw an effort awkwardly bounce up in front of the keeper who did manage to gather the effort.
But, any thoughts of a comeback were ended with the hosts made it 6-3 with a minute to go as a cutback saw Jodie Osborne head home from close range, and although Stevenage did add a fourth right on the full time whistle after Ashleigh Deacon fired a left footed effort into the far corner, the hosts ran out 6-4 winners in what was a very exciting encounter.
Full Time AFC Basildon 6 Stevenage 4
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