Fulham FC Women 5-0 Whyteleafe FC

A commanding performance from a finely disciplined side ensured Fulham FC Women took all three points and kept a critical clean sheet as they claimed a 5-0 victory over Whyteleafe Women FC in the London & South East Regional Women’s League.

After the disappointment of a draw against Saltdean last week, the Whites looked determined to set the tempo from the outset. Fulham stormed towards the opposition, finding space on the flanks and keeping a tidy shape. The linkup between Ellie Olds and Helen Ogle was to become a major theme of the match, and the partnership broke down the opposition in the first minute when an Olds cross found Ogle who coolly slotted the ball past Amy Jenkins in the Whyteleafe goal.

Fulham had a number of chances to wrap up the half, with Helen Ogle flicking the ball goalwards only to see it skim the crossbar and Georgia Heasman taking a clean strike forcing a quick reaction from the goalkeeper. Shortly after a substitution, when Annie Thomas replaced Magalie Mendes, Fulham found the net again. This time, Helen Ogle provided Ellie Olds with a through ball, baffling the Whyteleafe defence, and the striker shot home in the 32^nd minute.

In the second half, Fulham comfortably kept possession, snuffing out any potential threat with a change in formation. The strong back four were only caught out once when control was briefly lost, but the close range Whyteleafe attempt was superbly saved by Emma Marlow.

The third goal of the game came in the 63^rd minute when a Fulham corner found the head of Ellie Olds who easily lost her defender and nodded past the hapless keeper to take her second goal. It took Olds just shy of fifteen minutes to score again, completing her fully deserved hattrick and Fulham’s fourth goal.

Dominating the closing moments of the match, the Whites continued to press. A second substitution in the 80^th minute saw Fulham’s league-debutant Chloe Christison-McNee replaced by Kate Foster who, after storming through two Whyteleafe defenders, took a dazzling strike to score the White’s fifth and final goal in the 82^nd minute.

Fulham are back home again next weekend, this time facing Eastbourne United in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.