In a commanding performance, Washington FC Wildcats triumphed over Chester-Le-Street Amazons with a resounding 5-1 victory in their league encounter at Houghton Kepier on 25 January 2025. The match kicked off at 9:00 am, showcasing the Wildcats' attacking prowess and tactical discipline throughout the 80 minutes of play.
The Wildcats lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Olivia Emmet took her place in goal, shielded by a back three consisting of Layla Forster, Paige Donnelly, and Katie Bentham. The midfield was packed with creativity and energy, featuring Ella Jobson, Demi Lamb, and Keira Curry in central roles, while Charlotte Lock and Ocean Jones operated as right and left midfielders, respectively. Up front, Molly Winter and Mya Hartley were tasked with leading the line as forwards, looking to exploit any gaps in the Chester-Le-Street defence. The substitutes for the match were Kayla Shevills, Angel Kent, and Sophia Platten.
The first half saw the Wildcats assert their dominance early on. In the 20th minute, the first substitution occurred, with Kayla Shevills coming on for Ocean Jones, followed closely by Angel Kent replacing Mya Hartley, and Sophia Platten taking the place of Paige Donnelly. These changes injected fresh energy into the squad, and it wasn’t long before they bore fruit.
In the 31st minute, Kayla Shevills marked her introduction with a goal, finishing off a well-worked team move assisted by Ella Jobson. Shortly after Molly Winter ran the left line before beating her opponent and flashing a cross right across the goal line, but unfortunately no one could reach the tap in. The Wildcats went into half-time with a 1-0 lead, having controlled much of the play.
The second half began with Chester-Le-Street Amazons looking to respond, and they found an opportunity just after the restart. In the 46th minute, they were awarded a penalty, which they converted, bringing the score to 1-1 and briefly igniting hopes of a comeback.
However, the Wildcats quickly regained their composure and struck back immediately. Just a minute later, in the 47th minute, Angel Kent found the net with a left-footed shot, assisted by Keira Curry, putting the Wildcats back in front.
The Wildcats continued to press, and in the 53rd minute, Keira Curry extended the lead with a long-range strike into the top corner, showcasing her ability to score from distance. The Wildcats were now firmly in control, leading 3-1.
Substitutions followed in the 61st minute, with Molly Winter replacing Charlotte Lock, Katie Bentham coming on for Angel Kent, and Ella Jobson returning to the pitch in place of Demi Lamb. The fresh legs continued to bolster the Wildcats' attacking threat.
In the 62nd minute, Keira Curry added her second goal of the match, tapping in from close range after a well-placed and pacey crossing assist from the right foot of Molly Winter. The Wildcats were now cruising at 4-1.
As the match neared its conclusion, Layla Forster capped off the scoring in the 74th minute, converting another close-range opportunity with a right-footed tap-in after the opposing goalkeeper spilled the ball, with Ocean Jones having the initial shot. This goal brought the final score to an emphatic 5-1 in favour of the Wildcats.
The match highlighted the Wildcats' attacking capabilities and solid teamwork, with Ella Jobson and Keira Curry earning special mention for their performances. The Wildcats will be looking to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixture away to Newton Aycliffe, while Chester-Le-Street will need to regroup and reassess following a challenging encounter.
