Matchday Recap: Crawley AFC

Fulham Women notched 15 goals without reply against Crawley on Sunday, as they picked up a dominant win at Three Bridges.

After 13 months out due to injury, Ellie Olds returned to the matchday squad along with new signing Belle Taylor-M. 

Fulham grabbed the lead very early on, as Georgia Heasman drew the Crawley 'keeper off her line and slotted the ball across goal for Sasha Adamson to tap in. 

Sophie Manzi attempted to double the score in the eighth minute when she received the ball with her back to goal and took the shot on the turn, but it was sent over the crossbar. 

But Manzi did end up playing a part in Fulham’s second goal, as she pounced on a Crawley goal-kick and headed into Heasman’s path, and the forward found the back of the net.

A Crawley defender then headed past their own ‘keeper from a corner for Fulham’s third.

Megalie Mendes then broke through the Crawley defence but fired her effort over the crossbar, while Frankie Gibbs was forced into a save at the other end.

Shortly after the Crawley stopper was called into action to prevent Adamson extending the lead, Manzi got her first goal of the game when she latched onto Lilly Lambird’s through ball and made no mistake with the finish.

Fulham grabbed two more goals before the break, as Heasman turned her marker and converted into an empty net, and Lambird drilled a strike into the bottom left.

The goals kept coming in the second half as Heasman redirected Adamson’s attempt to secure her hat-trick.

The pair linked up again minutes later, but Heasman was unable to connect with Adamson’s cross. 

While Crawley’s goalkeeper was forced into further saves from both Heasman and Barron-Clark.

Just past the hour mark, Olivia Dale made her way through the away side’s defence but sent her attempt wide, but she found the target shortly after when she attacked a corner and made it 8-0.

There was an emotional moment when Ellie Olds, who suffered a full rupture of her patella tendon last February, was brought on in the 75th minute to a huge ovation from the crowd. 

The goals kept coming as Manzi made it nine by chasing down Lambird's attempt and slotting home, and Taylor-M got a debut goal after beating two defenders to take the scoreline into double figures. 

Manzi became the second Fulham player to claim a hat-trick, put the 'keeper under pressure after Barron-Clark hit the crossbar and  bundling in. 

And Olds marked a dream return as Manzi squared the ball for her to tap in with her first touch of the game. 

Adamson added two more goals to her personal tally, capitalising on a loose ball and then getting on the end of a pass from Manzi for her hat-trick. 

The 15th and final goal came from Taylor-M, who rounded off the scoring by lobbing the Crawley goalie.