Fulham 9-1 Millwall Lionesses

Fulham were completely dominant in a game that saw them put nine outstanding goals past Millwall, turning the Lionesses into kittens. Hattricks from Helen Ogle and Georgia Heasman, a brace from Kate Foster and a rocket from Oana Negrea firmly secured Fulham’s league win while closing the gap at the top to just four points.

In the first minute, Kate Foster caught the Lionesses sleeping and opened Fulham’s account, slotting in her first goal from a close range shot. The Whites then created chance after chance: Negrea seemed to have the ball glued to her feet, working hard in and out of the Millwall box to get crosses in, while Ogle, Foster, Becky Stormer and Gemma Taylor all had space and time to take aim on the Millwall goal. A second goal was surely beckoning, and in the 10^th minute, after a tenacious Negrea effort, Heasman deservedly netted the ball.

As Millwall struggled to get a foot in the game, Fulham continued to toy with them. At the 15-minute mark, Negrea took a powerful shot from 20 yards out, her strike gave the keeper no chance and the score line became 3-0. Two minutes later, Foster completed her brace, easing a shot past the keeper and made it 4-0.

The visitors had a chance to score in the 28^th minute when they took a free kick in the Fulham end, but the effort went well wide of the post. Another rocket on target from Ogle in the 31^st minute brought the Fulham tally up to 5-0 while another chance a minute later - this time from a superb Tessa Allen cross - flew just a fraction over the heads of Heasman and Ogle. Although Millwall hit the woodwork in the 43^rd minute, the Lionesses must have been willing the half-time whistle to go as Taylor played a neat back heel pass to Foster whose shot went wide, and two subsequent corners just missed the target. In the 47^th minute, Taylor laid off an excellent ball to Heasman who secured her second and Fulham’s sixth of the half.

As the second half began, the visitors looked hard for a route into the match and for a short spell the game became scrappy. Order resumed in the 50^th minute when Heasman again broke away from her defender and delivered a perfectly weighted ball to Ogle who reliably hit the target and made it 7-0. Millwall then had a run-on goal in the 64^th minute but Stormer, who for this match was team captain, made a brilliant block and Edie Kelly was troubled no further.

At 80 minutes, The Whites still pushed and looked to further their lead. Heasman once again teased her defender with a nutmeg, then side stepped the keeper to blast home her third of the match, her first hattrick for Fulham and giave the home side an 8-0 lead. Five minutes later, Ellie Olds worked to find Ogle who needed no further help to deliver Fulham’s ninth and collected her hattrick. There was a late consolation goal for the Lionesses in the 88^th minute and the game finished 9-1. This was a very memorable last home game of 2021 with Fulham giving a commanding display in what was a whole team performance. This 90-minute masterclass was one which the team will no doubt be extremely proud of for seasons to come.