Town bounce back with seven
Shrewsbury Town Ladies traveled to Florence to claim an important three points after last weeks defeat. Owens named several changes from last week and saw the return of Chloe Howells from injury.
Town were quickly on the front foot and inside 3 minutes saw Town playing the ball from the back and a through ball by Penny Owen found Charlotte Budd who one on one slotted home with ease.
In the 25th minute, Chloe Howells returning from injury found herself one v one with the keeper. Florence keeper pushed Howells wide and Hshe recycled the ball to Francis who then set Nic Durnall for her strike to hit the back of the net from 20 yards.
Town kept pushing and moved the ball well. Young and Woodhouse linked up again, and Woodhouse this time one on one pushed the ball wide.
Budd completed a first half hat trick within two minutes of her second and third goal. Her second saw Keeper Beth Cleveley long ball put her through on goal and to slot home. Budds‘ third was an excellent strike. Budd picked up the ball on the left and she went past two players to strike the ball from 20 yards into the bottom right corner.
Half time: Florence 0 – 4 Shrewsbury Town
Within 3 minutes of the restart, Natalie Williams scored her first goal for the club. Danniella Garrett worked well pressing the Florence defence and as a result Budd found the ball at her feet. Budd’s shot was well saved by the keeper and the rebound fell to Williams who tapped in.
Williams found herself on the scoresheet again in the 60th minute. Town switched the ball well and Francis released Williams down the left who took the ball into the box and her misplaced cross found the back of the net.
As the game started to stretch, Florence looked dangerous on the break. They were rewarded in the 66th minute as Town’s defence was stretched and a through ball split Francis and Nicholson for the Florence striker Harrison to slot home inside the box.
Florence nearly scored a second two minutes later as Cleveley was drawn into action again as striker Harrison found herself one v one and her shot was parried by Cleveley. The parried shot fell to Harrison’s feet whose shot was well saved by Cleveley down to her left post.
Town finished the game off in the 82nd minute when Natalie Williams deep cross found Woodhouse on the edge of the box who cut in and fired the ball into the top corner.
Final score: Florence 1 – 7 Shrewsbury Town
Manager Alex Owens was pleased with the ladies performance. ‘Every single player on the pitch did their job and we worked extremely well in the first half. Credit to Florence, they pushed us in the first half and we saw our best football’.
‘We game away from home, set the tempo and showed our strengths. Budd was outstanding and deserved her three goals. And as a whole team we look back at the game knowing we had a good test and came out on top with ease’.