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Clare Hunt: Overcoming challenges and learning on and off the pitch

This week’s Midweek Dub player interview saw Western Sydney Wanderers captain Clare Hunt, newly called–up by the Matildas, sit down for an in-depth chat with Impetus’ Kris Goman. The pair discuss Hunt’s earliest days playing in rural Grenfell, her ongoing studies, career aims, and why it’s so important to inspire the next generation (15/2/23).

Above: Clare Hunt (centre) – a focal point of the Western Sydney Wanderers team. Photo: Kris Goman for Impetus.

Impetus’ Kris Goman caught up with Claire Hunt from the Western Sydney Wanderers two weeks ago, just days before the announcement of her selection for the Cup of Nations Matildas squad.

This is a longer format interview where we were afforded the luxury of a half-hour chat rather than a brief press conference and were able to dive into the personality, thoughts, and aspirations of the Wanderers’ captain.

While it feels a little like she’s just burst onto the scene, she’s been around a while and was a former Young Matilda, prior to a bad run of injuries that has kept her from fulfilling her potential like contemporaries Ellie Carpenter and Clare Wheeler.

So grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy the read and get to know Clare Hunt a lot better.

Kris Goman (KG): Do you want to just briefly run me through your football career to date?

Clare Hunt (CH): It’s been a very unorthodox one. I started playing when I was about five. I played a lot of junior football. I grew up in Grenfell, which is a little rural town, about five hours west of Sydney, and spent my first seventeen years there and a lot of my junior football required lots of travel to either Canberra or Sydney, so I did a lot of stuff with the Canberra United Academy and got my first A League Women’s gig with Canberra when I was sixteen.

I did a lot of travelling either to Canberra or to Sydney. Some Young Matildas camps were in Sydney so I would travel for that but most of the time I stayed at home on the farm with mum and dad until I finished school and then I moved to Sydney when I was 17.

I played with Sydney University and did Young Matildas that year and then I think pretty much from 2017 I was cursed with lots of terrible injuries. I suffered an ACL at the start of 2018 and then battled with injuries through 2019, 2020, and 2021, and then had a good run at Wanderers last year and then this is my second year at Wanderers this year.

**Above:** Grenfell – Clare Hunt’s home town. **Photo:** Tourism Grenfell.

KG: I was wondering if you grew up in Canberra or what, so Grenfell. That’s obviously a small little town. What sort of a farm is it?

CH: Dad runs the farm so we have lambs, some crops as well and then mum’s a teacher back home.

KG: Oh wow, so with a small school like that how did you sort of get recognised? Is that just sort of coming up through Regional and District competitions or was it club football or through school?

CH: I think the biggest pathway for NSW Country kids is actually representing NSW Country at football nationals. So with football personally for me, that was my biggest pathway. When you’re 11, 12, 13 that was your avenue to kind of be identified for Junior Matildas then Young Matildas and the girls that you see in the A-League now kind of went through that pathway.

I used to play Ellie Carpenter back in the day. Jada Whyman came through that pathway. Eliza Ammendolia came through that pathway and is now playing in the States, so they are the girls that I kind of grew up with in country areas that I used to play with that are now playing A-League or have experience overseas.

KG: Yeah, that reminded me a bit of Ellie Carpenter coming from Cowra and travelling miles and miles and miles constantly. So you did your Bachelor of Science at Sydney Uni while playing for Canberra? How on earth did you manage that with travel and general logistics and stuff?

CH: The University was pretty lenient in terms of giving me an opportunity to do most things online when I could and then try and make up my practicals when I could. But it was also the nature of when the season started, so it started quite late in October – November, and uni finishes around then. So there was a lot of coordination from the head coach down in Canberra who at that time was both Heather Garriock and then later on, Vicki Linton.

It’s just coordinating with your coach, you know, “Hey I need to be at uni on this day” or “I need lenience to go sit this exam” or stuff like that. And I remember finishing off my degree, I sat an exam online in Canberra right before I trained so it was a bit chaotic, but it gave me an opportunity to do both.

KG: Very good and now you’re studying Doctor of Physiotherapy, so is that a PhD, or is it to be a physiotherapist doctor sort of thing?

CH: It’s like it’s an extended Masters. It’s not necessarily a PhD, yeah I would say an extended masters with a research project in the third year. So as a three-year masters which is slightly longer than usual, but they integrate more clinical placement hours and a greater research component at the end of the degree. So yeah, I’ve started that one, and I mean I’m still at the start of it I suppose. So in first year still.

**Above:** Calm and poised in possession. Clare Hunt. **Photo:** Kris Goman for *Impetus*.

KG: So how does that fit now with playing football professionally in terms of having enough time to dedicate to study while still trying to be professional in terms of football because the season is a bit longer now too.

CH: Yeah, yeah. Well I haven’t hit that road yet so I’ll let you know in about six weeks. I was quite lucky, the degree started in July and at that moment, I think the week before, I suffered my fibula fracture so honestly, it gave me an opportunity to go and do something and go upskill while I was in rehabilitation for my ankle. So for me it was easier to manage because I was in a rehab phase.

However, now that I’m not in that phase anymore and Uni’s about to kick off, I’m really intrigued to how I’m going to manage it, or whether it is manageable, but I just, I think at this point in my life, I really want to give most to football, but also have study in my back pocket. And obviously, if football is continuing well and something needs to give, then obviously I want to pursue football to the best of my capacity whilst I’m fit. And whilst I’m young. And then if things fall apart then I always have something to fall back on.

I think that’s something I learnt quite young. When you’re pretty sprightly, you’re, you know, gonna get to the top really quick and then you suffer serious injury and it puts you out for 12 to 20 months (with complications). It’s quite difficult so you always have to have a backup plan. But I think for me, that’s something that I do enjoy and I can do on the side while I’m playing football.

KG: Yeah, so on that. In fact, it was almost a year exactly, wasn’t it, that you had the season-ending injury.

CH: I dislocated my shoulder. In the game against Adelaide. We played at Marconi and I dislocated my shoulder quite badly and tore my labrum so I needed a total reconstruction of my shoulder. Then I had rehab for that, for I suppose, six months up until June. I had about a month where I was feeling really, really good. And then I had no luck with the ankle.

So 2022 was a bit of a tough year for me in terms of just trying to, you know, find momentum after coming off what was a good start to the A-League Women season and just to be fronted with two fairly, you know, strenuous or long rehabs. After what I had already been through in terms of rehab prior to that in 2020, 2021, 2019 – all of it.

KG: So what were they? They were ACLs, weren’t they? Or at least one of them?

CH: Yeah so I had my ACL in 2018 at the start and then between mid-2018 to 2020 I had issues with my other knee where my femur had an issue so I had to have some screws put in to solve that. So it was a bony issue that was affecting obviously my knee.

Um, so then that carried on through three operations and issues with rehab. I couldn’t quite solve the issue and was always in quite a bit of pain, so that put me in and out so I would play a few games, then fall into trouble. We’d do a full rehab and then ultimately come unstuck a month to three months down the track so it felt like such as stop-start relationship with football. Because I would, you know, find some momentum, find some form, and then I’d be back at square one and I think to be put back at square one almost four, five, six times in a row is quite frustrating.

**Above:** Clare Hunt battles against Melbourne City earlier this season. **Photo:** Kris Goman for *Impetus*.

But I think for me, I knew why I was doing it. I always have the drive to do it. I wanted to try and play football at the top level and I always had a passion for it, so the rehab was never easy, but it was also not difficult because I knew what was waiting for me on the other side, so yeah.

KG: Impressive. Is that what’s driven you to study physiotherapy and are you able to fix yourself now? Or you’ve only just started so maybe not?

CH: Yeah, I’m barely qualified to fix myself. But I think it’s given me a great passion in terms of understanding the ability that you can have as a physiotherapist to help an individual, whether they be an athlete or not, in terms of taking them through a programme to get them from a state of full injury or inability to do what they want to do and then you guide them through to almost take them to beyond what they were before they had the injury. So it is a very strenuous process.

It’s a very mentally draining process and it’s also physically a gruelling process, but to have experienced that myself and have an interest in, I suppose, the human body and anatomy and how amazing it is for it to work. After you know such physical trauma, I think that’s really, really, really cool. So to help people through that, I think it’s given me a passion outside football that I probably had before I got injured, but I think it’s been really like fuelled by that because I now understand it so much better and it gives me an opportunity to share that with other people as well. So yeah, it’s amazing.

KG: It’s amazing, yeah, I can relate. I’ve done my ACL twice and broken the same knee so yeah, I haven’t quite probably been there to the same extent but I do understand the pain, that’s for sure.

CH: Yeah, yeah.

KG: OK, so on to the Wanderers. After a slow start, the Wanderers have now become giant killers of the comp and are moving up the leaderboard. So what do you put this down to?

CH: I think it’s down to a few things. We made a formation change that I think really gave everyone on the pitch an opportunity to kind of express themselves in a way that was conducive to the team. We found more goal-scoring success in that new formation. We signed Sarina Bolden, who bought such a positive, vibrant, hardworking energy. So I think for us as a squad, that was a bit of a relief to see a goal scorer join the club and have a bit of faith in her to do her job. But also, we weren’t bad before that point.

We had gone down, I think, one nil, three times in the first five games and we also had a draw. So for me, I don’t think we necessarily got smashed on the park. I think we just missed opportunities in front of goal that we should have, I suppose, completed. But also, you know, leaked goals – that I suppose, great goals from an opposition team or they might be a penalty, or they might be us losing a bit of focus in a certain point of the match, but we only were conceding one or two goals in those games. It’s not like we were getting blown out of the park, so I think for us that has been turning point as well.

KG: Yes. So I could see the euphoria on the team after beating Melbourne City 2-0 and then beating undefeated Western United 2-1 as well. What sort of a boost did that give the team?

**Above:** Clare Hunt (14) celebrating as Western Sydney Wanderers’ season continues to get better and better. **Photo:** Kris Goman for *Impetus*.

CH: It was it was a good confidence boost for us. I think we knew it was coming. We would always say before each game like this is gonna be it. This is gonna be the game where we find that ability to manage a game and come out on top, and I think for us, against City, if you look at the stats, we didn’t have a lot of the ball. We didn’t, you know, look threatening all the time, but the times that we did look threatening and the times that we did transition into a counterattack, we took our opportunities, and when we were defending, we’re a tight unit and kept City scoreless and Western United to one goal for a team that has the ability to score five goals during a game. So for us that was a huge confidence boost to know that we can beat top teams in the league, but it also gave us an opportunity to kind of truly express ourselves and our style of play.

KG: So do you see the Wanderers making the finals this year?

CH: I can’t see why we can’t. I think we need to obviously win the next few games. I think that’s quite important for us. So January’s been a really, really solid month for us with, I think, three wins and a draw. So we need to just take that momentum into February and if we can get some success early to mid-Feb and get some points, I think if we have a few wins that will take us to mid-table maybe. So if we can stay around that mid-table and just continue to creep up with some good results. Yeah, there’s no reason why we can’t make finals.

KG: You’re already mid-table, so it’s sort of almost there.

CH: Yeah, so only a little more.

KG: It’s almost goal difference, and it’s almost just like one or two points difference. It’s very close actually and particularly in the middle, so it’s interesting.

Okay, so you’re only 23, aren’t you?

CH: Yeah.

KG: You seem wise beyond your years, to be honest. You were selected as the captain this year. Now you’re not overly vocal on the field or not from where I sit. I can’t really hear you that much, but then again it would be hard to be heard over Jordyn Bloomer. Ha, ha. How do you define your leadership style?

CH: Oh, I would like to improve on my communication on the pitch and that’s something I’ve tried to work towards and I feel like I’m not exceptionally quiet. But I’m also not exceptionally loud so a lot of the guidance I give might be, you know, simple instructions or, you know, small comments that assist players in small aspects of the game. So I feel like for me, that’s potentially the best way that I communicate with players around me, where as you have your Jordyn Bloomer, your Sham Khamis, and other girls on the pitch, are really, really, really loud, so and they’re exceptional at what they do in terms of driving the team, in terms of positional setup and stuff like that. So they’re exceptionally good at their job and obviously for me, that’s something I really need to, I suppose, improve on if I want to continue my footballing development.

**Above:** Captain of Western Sydney Wanderers. **Photo:** Kris Goman for *Impetus*.

In terms of my leadership, I think a lot of the leading I do is probably unseen to a lot of spectators or fans because it happens throughout the week. It happens when we’re at training when we’re not at training. The way I conduct myself, everything I do, I try to act as professionally as I can and provide support to team members in ways that it probably doesn’t necessarily get noticed all the time, but yeah, it just gives me an opportunity to lead by example and show others what the expectation is at the club, and it’s up to the players to kind of identify that and go, okay, if that’s the set expectation, then that’s what I need to do to behave as a professional and I’ll try and do that in order to, I suppose, lift the professionalism, but also build rapport with players as well.

KG: So prior to your injury last year, I personally thought you were in serious contention for Matildas selection. I’m thinking the same thing again this year. Last person I thought that about was Cortnee Vine. Tony Gustavsson’s been at quite a few of the matches recently. Is making the Matildas squad an aspiration for you?

CH: It’s always been something that I’ve wanted to achieve, but has never been something that I’ve ever really expected or put pressure on myself to achieve. I think for me this year and even last year after having such a stint with injury, my goal is just to get consistent minutes, consistent performances, and do what I need to do for my team and any by-product of that is something that is like the cherry on top. It’s something that I’ve worked for, but it’s not something at the forefront of my mind that I’ve gotta do. It’s just, if I can do my job at club level, any by-product of that is something that I will accept and something that I am striving towards. But my full focus is just with my team and anything that comes with that is a bonus for me.

KG: OK and have you bought tickets for the World Cup?

CH: I have, yeah, because I have lots of friends in the soccer circle and obviously I’m an avid football fan. So yes, I have.

KG: Okay, cool, so do you watch other football leagues like the WSL or whatever? Have you got time for that?

CH: Yeah, I watch it when I can watch a full match. I love watching the WSL and seeing some of the girls that are in the Matildas or were previously in the A-League, playing over there now so it’s a really good platform to see the world and see the style of play in leagues like that. My dear friend, Clare Wheeler, is over there. I played a lot of football with her at Sydney Uni and Young Matildas as well. So I love tuning in and I love watching the girls over there.

KG: Have you got a favourite women’s team over there?

CH: I like watching Arsenal play and there’s a few of the Matildas girls over with Arsenal, but Wheels is with Everton as well, so it’s not that I have a favourite. I’m not allowed to have a favourite, but I’ll tune in and watch some of the girls play.

KG: Well, I’m a Gooner so go Arsenal! Have you got any interest in going over there and potentially playing yourself?

**Above:** Clare Hunt gets away from Melbourne City’s Hannah Wilkinson. **Photo:** Kris Goman for *Impetus*.

CH: I would, I would love to. Again, it’s been a matter of opportunity and consistency of performance for me. So if I can continue just getting 90 minutes under my belt and performing in a way that, I suppose, is putting me in a position to get overseas, then obviously, that is the goal, and as I said, with the study, if an opportunity comes up like that, I’m not gonna let it slide. So for me, I would. I would love to ultimately head over to Europe or even the States or anywhere where I can further develop my football would be ideal.

KG: Fantastic. So have you got a particular female player that you look up to? Or that’s your favourite or you think is sort of well, really good?

CH: Oh, there’s a few I love. I think watching a lot of the centre backs in the WSL and seeing the different things they can add. Like obviously as an Arsenal supporter, you’d love watching Leah Williamson, her ability on the ball. So for me, it’s not that I have a favourite, but just like watching different styles of play from different players. Millie Bright from Chelsea is really physical. So you can see attributes of other players and pick apart the attributes of players that I really see their value in and try and emulate that in my game, I suppose. So yeah, I enjoy watching it and trying to, I suppose, pick apart other players and take what I can from those players.

KG: This year, who would you say in the A-League has been the hardest player to defend?

CH: I haven’t really thought about this. This is hard.

KG: Well, I hadn’t really noticed anyone running circles around you.

CH: Yeah, I feel like, I’m not quite sure on that one. I would go to say that ‘Chids’ (Alex Chidiac) makes it really difficult because she’s a ten and such a creative player that is very difficult to kind of judge or know because she has no certain pattern or certain way. She just kind of does her own thing. So when she’s a 10, you know, running at angles that you’re not used to, and you’ve got a nine running off her. I feel like Victory make it difficult for us and I feel like Victory had a lot of opportunities against us.

Again, Hannah Keane is a really, really good player on the ball as well. So yeah, I feel like, I don’t necessarily think of it as like a difficulty, but it’s an enjoyment to play against these players cause I’m testing myself so I’m never gonna go into a challenge or a competitive game thinking ohh, they’re gonna be so difficult. So I’m going with the mindset that I’m gonna be so difficult.

I think there’s a there’s a lot of quality strikers in the league and I’ve come up against that so I would go to say that yeah, there’s a few difficult ones out there. I can’t really pick though.

**Above:** A tough opponent – Clare Hunt tracks Melbourne Victory’s Alex Chidiac. **Photo:** Kris Goman for *Impetus*.

KG: Fair enough. You’ve been at The Wanderers for two years now. What’s the difference with the coaching styles between Cath Cannuli and Kat Smith?

CH: I think this year we’ve probably had more of an ability to have a formation shift. I think the 4-3-3 initially wasn’t working for us, so we found a shift there and I think that that was a catalyst for us to start scoring more goals and opening up play for ourselves. So since then we had a draw against Phoenix and then we started to have some wins against City and Western United. So the fact that we had that in our back pocket and we could, you know kind of shift formation.

That gave us an opportunity to start being more dominant defensively but also have transitional attacks that assisted us in having goal-scoring opportunities. So I think for us the ability to have tactical changes and having the personnel that can pick up on those changes and change within a week and have that flexibility. I think, this year, maybe that’s what is a difference between this year and last, is that I think we have the person to kind of go ahead and make changes and have players on the park that can adjust to those changes or even adjust their conditions during their game to allow us to do that. So I would say that’s the biggest difference.

KG: Now, you seem to really love kids. I’ve seen you give away boots twice, jerseys – a little jersey to a little kid, like after every match. What’s the story there?

CH: I’ve worked with a lot of kids. I did a bit of work as a learning support officer, so I love spending time with kids, helping kids learn, and giving them the opportunity to kind of go and express themselves and, I suppose, just enjoy what they’re doing and how they’re learning. I suppose for me at that age, I think if I had an experience like that, because I don’t remember having an experience like that, but I feel like for me, that would be a really cool thing to have as a kid. So giving away a jersey, it’s pretty easy for the club to organise a new jersey for me, so if there’s something that I can do, if I can give one of the supporters or one of the Wanderers kids who come out and who are doing the balls at one of the games.

I think I bumped into a young girl who I had coached during an Academy football week somewhere and I remembered her face and I was like, “Ohh, I’ve gotta give you a jersey” or I got introduced to one of the girls that our assistant coach had spent some time with and said she’s a really up and coming footballer. Even just a small gesture can be quite a powerful moment for someone who’s interested in the game and it gives them an opportunity to know that they can connect with players. I think that’s quite an important thing and to know that there’s something out there for them and that they can chase that goal too. And it’s also, I suppose, setting an example that you can be personable with players within the league and players can be, I suppose, role models for kids like that as well.

KG: Yeah it’s awesome, I mean look, I see the expression on their faces after you walk away and it’s just unbelievable.

**Above:** Clare Hunt with a young fan after a Western Sydney Wanderers match. The Wanderers skipper believes the importance of giving back to the next generation is a priority. **Photo:** Kris Homan for *Impetus*.

CH: Yeah.

KG: It’s really nice, yeah. One of my favourite things is there’s a picture of Leah Williamson as a kid with Kelly Smith, the captain of the English Women’s team and Leah Williamson’s a mascot. And then you know, it’s like however many years later and Leah’s the captain of England. When you see that, your heart swells. It’s just amazing and it’s so cool.

So of the young ones on the team. Who do you think’s got the biggest future?

CH: Ohh, that’s tough. That puts me in a tough position. I’m going to say I’m not gonna pinpoint it on one, but I’d go to say at least three to four of our young ones have really, really bright futures ahead of them, and even girls who aren’t necessarily getting game time at this level yet. Like we’ve got some 15 and 16-year-olds that are coming on for cameos or getting 90 minutes. And regardless of the game time they’re playing, sometimes I wish the fans could see them at training.

These girls have unbelievable skills, so I think the biggest job for the club now is kind of retaining those players and giving them opportunities now to showcase what girls of Western Sydney can do. A lot of those girls have already been identified for junior national team setup, so I can only speak exceptionally highly of all the young ones we have in this squad. Even girls that are training on with us who are not contracted have some immense talents so it’s amazing to kind of be in that environment and be with players that are younger than you, but at a skill level that’s unbelievable for their age. Sometimes I forget how young they are, so yeah, all of them have bright futures for sure.

KG: Yeah oh, look watching people like (Alexia) Apostolakis for example, she is getting a lot of game time and, I mean she’s really young and you know she was only getting a few minutes last season but to see her on the whole time now and she’s ripping it up, absolutely ripping up. It’s amazing. So it is good to see those young guys going so well. So that’s cool.

OK, I have now run out of questions and I’ll actually let you get back to it. But I really enjoyed this chat and I really appreciated your time.

CH: My pleasure. Thank you.

**Artwork: Charlotte Stacey, founder of On Her Side.**

Rossvale: Using strong foundations to reach for the stars

Third-tier SWF Championship side Rossvale have come a long way as a senior side in a short time – culminating with their last 16 Scottish Cup tie at the weekend against top-tier giants Rangers. Shaun Youngs, Rossvale’s matchday co-ordinator, spoke to Impetus’ Ben Gilby about the club’s formation, their exceptionally strong youth section, and their sustainable plans to gain promotion (15/2/23).

Above: Action from Rossvale’s historic home game with Rangers in the Scottish Cup last Sunday. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Kelly Neilson.

After being founded just before the COVID outbreak, Rossvale’s senior team have experienced sustained success, leading them to a Scottish Cup tie with the mighty Rangers and the cusp of second-tier football.

Speaking to Impetus, Shaun Youngs explained how the senior team got off the ground: “Rossvale acquired well-known and saught after coach Edward Gallagher and started building both on and off the pitch. Edward got a core of a team and his background staff secured then he was headhunted and appointed to a full-time position at English Championship side London City Lionesses.

**Above:** Rossvale, in their black away kit, celebrate a goal on the road. **Photo supplied to *Impetus* by:** Kelly Neilson.

“Once Edward left, the main target was to secure a manager and staff and then build a squad whilst also ticking all boxes in regard to compliance. We then appointed ex-Dundee player Craig Tully and had a very long wait during the pandemic.

Through this period, we kept in touch with the team at Scottish Women’s Football (SWF) and made sure we were ready to go once the world went back to some normality. Once this did happen, we were very proud to be added to the performance arm of the SWF structure therefore we knew we would be playing at the Championship standard.

“We had a phenomenal first season in 2022 and finished in a playoff position to be played against the second in the league from the North section. We were beaten in the playoff but were really pleased with the progress the whole club had made to contributing to this high-placed finish.”

In terms of what was the difference between Rossvale and the teams who pipped them to the post for promotion, Youngs felt: “In all honesty, it was probably experience on and off the park.

**Above:** A close-knit squad is key to Rossvale’s success. Captain Lauren Coleman, sponsored by *Impetus* gets a piggy back ride. **Photo** **supplied to *Impetus* by:** Kelly Neilson.

“Montrose and Gartcairn who were both automatically promoted are well established and really deserved to go up. That is being proven by their positions in the SWPL 2 this season. East Fife, who we played in the play off, and ourselves was a case of the best team on the day and unfortunately for us, East Fife were that on the day.

“Once the season was finished, the club parted company with Tully due to footballing differences. Once again, we excelled in capturing a great manager this time from Celtic U18’s, Julie McSherry.

“Julie has been there and done it as a coach and a player so knows the women’s and girls’ game well. She started her time in charge by going to all the youth teams to introduce herself. She then worked tirelessly to build her squad. This season we are currently sitting second in the league with a real chance of progressing to SWPL 2 (tier two) and we made it through to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup, which saw us host Rangers.

Rossvale’s success story is far from being just about their senior side. The club has a very large girls’ section consisting of 220 players in total. Six of their U18 squad have played senior football this season and been on the scoresheet too.

**Above:** Rossvale in possession. **Photo** **supplied to *Impetus* by:** Kelly Neilson.

The age group sides at Rossvale are continuing to expand as Youngs explained: “We are constantly recruiting and expanding with the pathway flourishing. We really hope to see some younger players from U16s and U18s make their senior debuts shortly. We are lucky to have Dave Caldwell who oversees the pathway. The Euros definitely helped not just Rossvale but the women’s game as a whole.”

In terms of how this season is progressing, cup run apart, the club’s matchday coordinator highlights the continued successes that Rossvale are experiencing.

“We had a tough first game away at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and narrowly lost 5-4. Since then we’ve gone on to win eight, lost three, and drawn one. We are second in the SWF Championship table with a +12 positive goal difference and only six points behind Livingston who have come out of the traps fast only dropping points in two games, with a loss and a draw.

Should the team go one better than their debut campaign and gain promotion, Youngs is confident that they can definitely sustain a place in the second tier for starters.

**Above:** Rossvale (black) in action at Livingston, in a battle of the top two in this season’s tier three SWF Championship. **Photo:** Kelly Neilson.

“We are so lucky to have great team sponsors in Bishopbriggs Kitchen Depot, George Leslie LTD, and Barraston Contracts who have supported us this season and they have agreed to carry on the support into next season which is amazing and means that financially we are set for the step up.

We also are lucky that all players and staff are sponsored – including captain Lauren Coleman, who Impetus sponsor. The Committee are working away to make sure that everything is set in stone for Julie McSherry to be able to concentrate on the training pitch and during games.

With potential promotion comes bigger-name opponents. The men’s SPL clubs are putting more resources into their women’s teams, meaning life gets that bit harder for non-SPL or SFL-aligned female teams such as Rossvale to continue to grow. However, Youngs feels that the club can rise to the challenge.

“The massive hard work in obtaining the sponsors that we have and their continued support is the key. We are also constantly looking to add further sponsorship. Football at this level isn’t cheap and we want our players and fans to be able to enjoy the facilities at the likes of Petershill the same way as Celtic, Partick Thistle, and Glasgow City do. We have season tickets and sell some merchandise to help.

**Above:** Rossvale captain Lauren Coleman, proudly sponsored by *Impetus*. **Photo supplied to *Impetus* by:** Kelly Neilson.

“Currently, the biggest issue is getting players that are SWPL ready to agree to sign for us when there is no guarantee (of promotion). This is the same as trying to get more sponsorship. There is a massive gulf between the Championship to the SWPL on all levels and bridging the gap is difficult. Julie has a fantastic squad, and they will be fine, but as in any league you always want experience and talent from that level.”

Impetus is proud to be sponsoring Rossvale club captain Lauren Coleman. Lauren is described as “a born leader, who has so much passion for the game and the club. She was one of the first players that the club signed as she has been there and done it including winning the Championship. The younger girls look up to her and she provides so much wisdom.”

**Above:** *Impetus* sponsored Rossvale captain Lauren Coleman hopes to have lots more to celebrate as the Glasgow-based club move towards the conclusion of the season. **Photo supplied to *Impetus* by:** Kelly Neilson.

Inside The Lionesses

Impetus’ Ben Phillips was at England’s training session capturing an EXCLUSIVE photo gallery from St. George’s Park of the squad being put through their paces ahead of the Arnold Clark Cup kicking off on Thursday (15/2/23).

Above: Georgia Stanway and Leah Williamson in relaxed mood at St. George’s Park yesterday (15/2/23).

Welsh Weekend Wrap

Martin Townley rounds up all the weekend’s action in the Adran Trophy Semi-Finals, plus all the latest events in the tier two Adran North and South, with thanks to Aberystwyth Town Women’s media team (14/2/23).

Above: Cardiff City’s Phoebe Poole celebrates after scoring the decisive goal in their Adran Trophy semi-final against The New Saints. Photo: Perry Dobbins.

The Adran Trophy final will see a Cardiff derby as both Cardiff Met and Cardiff City won their semi-finals. In the Adran North, both of the leading sides, Wrexham and Connah’s Quay Nomads won again as they pull away from the rest of the pack. Cascade closed the gap at the top of the Adran South to two points as they win at Caldicot.

Adran Trophy Semi-Finals

Cardiff City 3-1 The New Saints

The Bluebirds had to come from behind to book their place in the final after Caitlin Chapman had given the Saints the lead in the 56^th minute.

Phoebie Poole missed the chance to level when she sent her penalty wide of the goal. Manon Pearce did get the equaliser for City as she fired in from the edge of the box with her team pushing forward.

Siobhan Walsh headed City ahead in the 82^nd minute from a superb delivery from Ffion Price. Poole added a third for City in the 83^rd minute with a lifted effort over Sarah Parkes.

Cardiff Met 3-1 Aberystwyth Town

**Above:** Aberystwyth Town’s young guns Modlen Gwynn, Elan Jones, and Ella Thomas. **Photo:** Ray Tourle.

Aberystwyth Town Women bowed out of the Genero Adran Trophy at the semi-final stage, falling to Cardiff Met 3-1 at Cyncoed Campus writes the ATFC Women media team.

Amy Jenkins grabbed what turned out to be the Seasiders’ consolation goal in the 50th minute after Ellie Preece, Tija Richardson, and Emily Allen had put the Archers ahead.

“When you’re going to top teams like Cardiff Met, who were excellent on the day, you can’t afford to make any mistakes,” said Aberystwyth manager Gav Allen. “We grafted, we worked hard, but we came up short.”

Without centre-half Elin Jones – whose ACL injury was confirmed this week – and midfielder Shauna Chambers, Aber’s starting line-up included 15-year-old Modlen Gwynne, with another youngster Ella Thomas on the bench. Both had been given the thumbs-up to compete in senior football just last week.

With Elan Jones, just 17 making her third senior appearance, coming on as a second-half substitute, Allen was pleased with how the youngsters acquitted themselves.

“It was great to have those three on the pitch,” he said. “None of them looked out of place on such a big occasion.”

Adran North

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 0-1 Connah’s Quay Nomads

Connah’s Quay remain top of the Adran North with a 1-0 win over Rhyl. Rhyl made it tough for the Nomads who had to wait until the 71^st minute to take the lead. Elana Harley came off the bench to get the winner.

Connah’s Quay are a point ahead of Wrexham but have played a game more. With the two sides due to meet twice before the end of the season, there may well be more twists in this title race.

Wrexham 6-0 Llanfair United

**Above:** Wrexham’s Rosie Hughes shares her joy with a young fan after scoring one of her three goals at home to Llandfair United. **Photo:** Wrexham AFC Women.

Wrexham maintain their 100% record with a 6-0 win over Llanfair United. In a one-sided contest, Wrexham’s Rosie Hughes scored a hat trick taking her total in the league to 13 this season. Amber Lightfoot got two and Lily Whitefoot added a sixth in added time as Wrexham ran out comprehensive winners.

CPDM Y Felinheli 6-1 Airbus UK Broughton

Felinheli won against Airbus as the visitors fell to their ninth defeat of the season. Katie Midwinter (2), Ffion Williams (2), Jordanne Greenough, and an own goal for Felinheli. Jade Scott provided a limited consolation when she scored for Airbus who remain bottom of the table. Felinheli are fifth.

Adran South

Caldicot Town 0-3 Cascade YC

Cascade keep Briton Ferry on their toes with their win at Caldicot Town. Annaliese Lewis gave Cascade the lead in the 39^th minute as the visitors went into halftime ahead. Chrystalla Moreton added a second in the 68^th minute and Jess Pascoe made it three in the 81^st minute.

Cascade go just two points behind Briton Ferry and Caldicot remain bottom of the table.

Norfolk Weekly Wrap

Darrell Allen provides his weekly round-up of all the women’s football action in Norfolk (14/2/23).

Above: Katie Knights (right) in action for Norwich City against Hashtag United. Photo: Norwich City Women.

FA Women’s National League Division One South-East

It was an afternoon to forget for Norwich City who were thrashed 7-1 at home by league leaders Hashtag United. Grace Gillard and Katherine Nutman bagged a brace each with Samantha Rowland, Kelly Wealthall, and Hayley Nest added to the tally to see the visitors claim a comfortable win. Olivia Cook scored a consolation goal on a disappointing day for the Norfolk side.

Eastern Region Premier Division

**Above:** Hannah Waters (right) scored both of Wroxham’s goals in their 4-2 defeat to AFC Sudbury. Photo: Steve Screech.

Wroxham blew a 2-0 lead to end the afternoon pointless at Trafford Park after a 4-2 loss to AFC Sudbury. Two goals from Hannah Waters had given the Yachtswomen the lead but Evie Creaton, Phoebe Guiver, and Holly Kennard with two saw AFC Sudbury take a well-deserved win.

King’s Lynn Town went down 4-1 away to Stevenage despite an encouraging first-half performance. Stevenage had Amy Gooderham, Katie White, Erin Price, and Becky Shephard to thank for the goals in their win with Samara Nche replying for King’s Lynn Town.

Eastern Region Division One North

Fakenham Town were beaten 1-0 at home by St. Ives Town. A solitary goal from Annie Possnett saw the points head back to Cambridgeshire with the visitors.

Norfolk Women and Girls League Division One

**Above:** Shanice Sutton, who scored five of Dussindale and Hellesdon’s six goals in their 6-2 win over Bungay Town. Photo: Hardy Scott Photos

The day’s headline makers in Division One were Stalham Town who picked up their first points of the season with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Sprowston. Carla Coleman, Abigail Gower, and Emma Macmillan scored for Stalham with Anais Winney and Lois Wright replying for Sprowston.

Leaders Dussindale and Hellesdon Rovers recorded a 6-2 win over Bungay Town. Shanice Suttton scored an incredible five goals with Victoria Leyer adding the other. Selina Rowland and debut-maker Zoe Cossey scored the Bungay goals.

Mulbarton Belles recorded a 2-0 win over the University of East Anglia (UEA) thanks to Sophie Jermy’s and Rebekah Lake’s goals. UEA were reduced to ten for more than 80 minutes due to a seventh-minute red card to Lucy Gooding for handling on the line.

Long Stratton were 4-1 winners at Beccles Town thanks to a brace from Luci Middleton and other goals from Summer Copland and Katie Ransome-Farmer. Beccles’ goal came from Mia Rose.

Norfolk Women and Girls League Division Two

**Above:** Aylsham captain Jordan Arnoup, who scored twice in her side’s 3-0 win over King’s Lynn Soccer Club. Photo: Ben Cunningham

Aylsham were 3-0 winners at home to King’s Lynn Soccer Club thanks to two goals from captain Jordan Arnoup, and one from Chelsea Crowley.

Gorleston recorded a 3-1 win at Bulldogs FC through strikes from Kelsi Adams, Megan Bartlett and Rebecca Waters. Kirsty Turner netted for the hosts.

Freethorpe recorded an impressive 2-0 away win at FC Viking Valkyries thanks to a brace from Viktorija Miglane.

Mulbarton Belles Development were comprehensive 6-0 winners at Shrublands. Two each for Lucy Kean and Jade Telfer as well as goals for Maria Sosnina and Charlotte Groves saw the visitors take all three points.

A Kiera Brown goal was enough to continue North Walsham’s fine form as they recorded a 1-0 victory at Thorpe St. Andrew.

Norfolk Women and Girls League Sevens Division One

Kirkley and Pakefield were 2-0 winners over Horsford thanks to goals from Sue-Lyn King and Maria Palmer.

Rockland United were 5-1 winners over University of East Anglia. A brace from Rebecca Humphreys, one each from Leanne Warnes and Lisa Boyle, as well as an own goal were the scorers for the hosts and UEA had Holly Buck to thank for their reply.

Norfolk Women and Girls League Sevens Division Two

Great Yarmouth were 1-0 winners over Red Rose thanks to a goal from Ellie Reeder. Taverham won 6-0 at Loddon United with Keri Boorman, Kiera Braithwaite, Rebecca Kirby, Kate Morris, and Katie Fry (2) getting on the scoresheet.

Milton United v Woodley United Photo Gallery

Impetus are delighted to welcome Andy Wicks of Oakmist Photography to our ever-growing team of photography contributors. Andy’s first photo gallery for us comes from the tier six Southern Region Division One North game between Milton United and Woodley United.

Above: Woodley United celebrate winning the Southern Region Division One North championship on Sunday. Photo: Andy Hicks/Oakmist Photography.

Milton United 0-2 Woodley United

It was the battle of the top two in the Southern Region Division One North on Sunday as second-placed Milton United hosted leaders Woodley United (yellow). The visitors ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Bonnie Messitt and Sarah Lawrence, thus gaining the win that sealed the league title, and with it promotion to tier five for next season.

Teams: MILTON UNITED: Barnes, England, Evans, Loveridge, Miller, Porter, Saunders, R. Taylor, V. Taylor, Thorne, Winger. Substitutes: Norton, Tatford, Welch.

WOODLEY UNITED: Cheadle, Evans, Haines, Hamblin, Lawrence, Messitt, Quinn, Sawyer, Sims, Surtees, Wilkins. Substitutes: Hudson, Routledge, Slann, Steadman, Measham.

Scorers: Messitt 32′, Lawrence 68′.

Referee: Ian Herrington.

This is Andy Wicks‘ first piece for Impetus. To find out more about Andy and all of Impetus’ team of writers and photographers based on four continents, click here: https://impetusfootball.org/about-our-contributors/

Brownlie & McAvoy take SWPL Player of the Month awards

14/2/23

Above: Emma Brownlie with the SWPL Player of the Month award for January. Photo supplied to Impetus by: SWPL.

Heart of Midlothian’s Emma Brownlie and Courtney McAvoy of Boroughmuir Thistle have collected January’s Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) Player of the Month awards.

Brownlie becomes the first Heart of Midlothian player to win the award since February 2019 when Rachel Walkingshaw was the winner when Hearts were in SWPL 2.

The defender started in all three matches in January where they faced Rangers, Aberdeen, and Celtic. The Jambos picked up four points including an impressive 0-0 draw at home to Rangers and a 1-0 away win against Aberdeen. Brownlie’s well-placed free-kick was the difference at the Balmoral Stadium.

Brownlie has been a key part of Hearts’ success this season at the back, conceding just 18 goals from 18 games. In comparison, the Jambos conceded 66 goals in 27 games last season.

**Above:** Boroughmuir Thistle’s Courtney McAvoy with her SWPL 2 Player of the Month for January award. **Photo supplied to *Impetus* by:** SWPL.

In SWPL 2, Courtney McAvoy becomes the first-ever Boroughmuir Thistle winner of the award. Two players have been nominated in the past for the club, Tegan Browning (November 2020) and Samantha Duncan (September 2021).

McAvoy had scored four goals before January, adding five goals to her season tally in the month alone. This included the only goal in their 2-1 loss to Kilmarnock, the equaliser in their 2-2 draw away to East Fife, and a hat-trick in their 3-2 win over Montrose.

With McAvoy’s goals, Boroughmuir Thistle picked up seven points from a possible 12 including victories over the current top two sides in Montrose and Gartcairn.

The nominees for the January SWPL award were Amy Gallacher (Celtic), Danni McGinley (Dundee United), and Hannah Stewart (Aberdeen) and for the SWPL 2 award, the nominees were Abby Robinson (Kilmarnock) and Morgan Steedman (St. Johnstone).

Clare Wheeler: Prospect of home World Cup yet to sink in

Impetus’ Jonathan Tay joined the Matildas media conference with Everton star Clare Wheeler (14/2/23).

Above: Clare Wheeler in action previously for Australia. Photo: Football Australia.

Even with the World Cup less than six months away, for Clare Wheeler, the prospect of having the biggest tournament in football come down under hasn’t quite hit home.

“No, not to me; it feels like a whirlwind. I think I’ll have to be there to believe it – I don’t even think when I’m there it’s going to sink in,” the Australian midfielder remarked. “After the fact it’s going to be like, ‘wow, that happened’. I think to have a home World Cup will just be so different; it’s an opportunity that doesn’t come round for every player; with every camp, I’m just thankful to be there.”

The Matildas are back on home soil for the Cup of Nations, playing hosts to Spain, Jamaica, and the Czechia. All sides will face each other, with matches played across Gosford, Newcastle, and Sydney from 16-22 February. With the World Cup just around the corner, Australia are using this series of fixtures as key preparation in the build-up to the July tournament.

**Above:** Clare Wheeler is thrilled to be part of the squad playing close to family on the Central Coast. **Image:** Football Australia.

“I’m so excited, I’ve got so much family on the Central Coast and in Newcastle; it’s going to be good to see them,” Coffs Harbour-born Wheeler said. “Sometimes it still catches me off-guard; starting at Adamstown Rosebud, and now to be back there and to actually have the pleasure of meeting some of the girls that play out there which is really special to see. I’m super excited to go back there and put the national team jersey on.

“This tournament is going to really replicate for us the group stage of the World Cup: we have a top-10 nation in Spain, we have a team in Jamaica who are very physical and strong – they’re going to replicate Nigeria for us – and then Czechia as well. It’s going to have that physical aspect for us to back up within two or three days; I think that’s going to be good preparation for the whole team.”

Having not played a part in the past two international windows, partly due to injury, Wheeler has seen fellow central midfielders Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross thrive, the pair spurring the Matildas onto four straight wins. 25-year-old Wheeler is hoping to earn minutes this series, and showcase her worth to the national side.

“For me personally, it’s crucial for me to show Tony what I can do. I’ve been trying to put myself in the most competitive environment to be the best national team player I can be. Now it’s time to show in the final sprint, I’ve got to put everything on the table.

“[Katrina] Gorry and Kyra [Cooney-Cross], they’ve gotten some really good results in the Denmark, Sweden, and Thailand games, they’ve been doing really well. The conversations I’ve had have been around being the best midfielder I can be, how I can add playing forward to my game, creating chances, and also some more versatility; obviously having a variety of positions does help. The last six months has been in and out with a bit of injury for me. So now coming back into it, it’s just [about] playing consistently again, at Everton as well, and hopefully building from there.

**Above:** Clare Wheeler (third from left) pictured with her fellow Australians Angie Beard, Alison Forman, Alex Huynh and Indiah-Paige Riley during her time at Fortuna Hjørring. **Photo:** Fortuna Hjørring.

“It’s a good problem to have for the team; if there’s a lot of competition it’s a good thing. Everyone’s great and wants the best for the team: at the end of the day, when the green and gold win a game, I’m happy. Obviously, I want to be the best player I can be, and if I’m doing the right things each day, I know that will happen.”

The Everton midfielder also touched on her mate Clare Hunt’s first call-up for Australia, with the Western Sydney Wanderers defender impressing in this season’s A-League. Wheeler noted the value that it shows the domestic women’s competition provides, but that to take that next step, as she herself has, a move abroad may be necessary.

“Clare [Hunt] has been a close friend for many years, we went to Sydney Uni together, and did Young Matildas together, so I’ve known her for a long, long time. I know the challenges and adversity she’s faced, with multiple big injuries back-to-back. So for her to have the A-League as that stepping stone to get back into football is great, and she’s been able to find her way back. I’m really happy for her to have the opportunity.

“I think the A-League is great for all that, especially for younger players coming through. And for those players [where] their league, like America, isn’t on at that time [of the year], like for Alex Chidiac, it does have that place. But it obviously isn’t full-time yet – that’s a big limitation for players.

“At this time two years ago, I was working in a bank and just decided to play for Sydney FC; that all came down to choosing to pursue football, and do that in a full-time capacity. So now that I’m here, and signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Everton, it’s completely different.

**Above:** Clare Wheeler (left) in action for Everton against Chelsea. **Photo:** BBC.

“I was hesitant to go overseas. There were things around Covid and also you’re so far away from your family, and the nature of our work – you can’t just drop and go home. But I’ve gained things going overseas, and playing against people from a variety of different countries week-in and week-out, playing different styles of football in Denmark and here in England, and challenging yourself. I think I debuted in the A-League Women when I was 15, so doing that for several years, it’s only a good thing to put yourself in a new environment, to see how you go. It’s not only made me a better footballer, but given me more confidence; I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Wheeler acknowledged the rapid trajectory she’s been on, having played at three different clubs within three seasons, in what is considered to be progressively more challenging leagues. She reflected positively on the journey it’s been, and the ideal position it’s put her in for her career right now.

“Having a longer contract – for anyone, it puts them at ease. I think the last two years have been crazy; this is my third club. Taking that next step continuously, I’m happy that I’m here in this environment, to actually put some roots down and get comfortable and competitive in this league and in England.”

“The level – it’s huge. Going from the A-League Women to here; basically everyone in the team is a national team player, it’s just that next step. Being in the most competitive environment you can be, sets you up the best I think.

“At Everton, I’m really having to fight every week for minutes; it’s what the national team is like. It’s very performance-based, the best of the best. And that’s what I need to be able to deal with, and have the confidence and mentality to keep going. Everton is exactly where I need to be – it’s in a league that’s incredibly competitive, where anyone can beat anyone on the day.”

Scottish Weekend Review

from Tom Freeman (13/2/23)

Above: Livingston celebrate as they go 15 points clear at the top of the SWF Championship. Photo: Alex Todd / Sportpix.

SWF Championship

Livingston have extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Women’s Championship in emphatic fashion in a 10-1 victory over challengers Renfrew at the Tony Macaroni Stadium.

With Championship clubs Rossvale and Ayr United on Scottish Cup duty, all eyes turned to the late kick-off in Livingston as the home side looked to recover from dropping points in Inverness the week before and maintain momentum in their drive to SWPL promotion.

In what will be seen as a hugely significant result, the West Lothian side recorded a record scoreline for the new-look national Championship, with a hat trick from striker Ashley Elizabeth and doubles from Shannon Mulligan and Jen Dodds complemented by strikes from Brogan Anderson, Amy Hay, and Lucy Brown.

**Above:** Ashley Elizabeth with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick for Livingston against Renfrew. **Photo:** Alex Todd / Sportpix.

Michaela Brown scored for Renfrew in the second half, but with her side already six goals down it was never going to be more than a consolation against a Livingston side that looked fit and hungry all over the park.

The gap between them and second-placed Rossvale is now an unprecedented 15 points, albeit the Glasgow club having two games in hand.

Speaking to club media afterwards, Livingston striker Jen Dodds said: “I thought it was our best performance of the season so far, in terms of winning the ball back and pressing. I thought we were really good at creating loads of chances and scored loads of goals.

**Above:** Hutchison Vale in possession against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. **Photo:** Thomas Sands Media.

Earlier in the day Inverness Caledonian Thistle came back to defeat Hutchison Vale in Edinburgh 2-1, with goals from Betty Ross and Natalie Bodiam securing three points to put the Highlanders back up to fifth in the table.

Hutchison Vale captain Angyl Learmonth’s first-half goal looked to have turned round recent fortunes for the Edinburgh side, but Caley Thistle have rediscovered the ability to score late goals in recent games to take the points.

SWF League One

Edinburgh Caledonia recorded a second decisive victory in as many weeks to go clear in seventh and close the gap with the top half of the table, in a 5-1 defeat of BSC Glasgow.

Biffa SWFL Regional Leagues

**Above:** Action from Kilwinning’s game against Queen of the South (sky blue). **Photo:** Alan Campbell.

Forfar Farmington dropped their first points of the short season in SWFL North in a 4-2 defeat to new club Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park, while Queen of the South bested second place Kilwinning 2-0 with two early goals to extend their lead at the top of Biffa SWFL South.

Harmony Row stay top of the Biffa SWFL West after a close-fought 4-3 victory against Drumchapel United, while in the Biffa SWFL East Edinburgh South came close to holding table-toppers Central Girls but the Grangemouth side came away 2-1 winners.

A dozen for the Dons

AFC Wimbledon 12-0 Hounslow

by George Jones – AFC Wimbledon

Above: Ashlee Hincks, who scored seven goals for the Dons yesterday, fires in a shot for AFC Wimbledon against Hounslow yesterday. Photo: Emily Topping.

AFC Wimbledon Women certainly had their shooting boots on yesterday as they ran out 12-0 winners over Hounslow in the tier four FA Women’s National League Division One South-East.

After a hard-fought win against Actonians last time out the Dons made four changes to the starting eleven with Amy Taylor, Chloe Sampson, Ella Newman, and Megan Stow all starting.

The home side got off to a perfect start as an incredible long-range effort from Becki Bath saw them take the lead within two minutes. Shortly after things got even better as Ellie Dorey tapped in a rebound after Ashlee Hincks hit the post.

Close to the half-hour mark it was three as Hincks got amongst the goals with a fine finish. This signaled a flurry of goals as Dorey got her second three minutes later. Hincks then also had a brace, making it 5-0 after only 40 minutes.

Next up it was captain for the day Kelly Highman who scored her first goal of the season before Wimbledon’s number nine completed her hat-trick. Hincks then had four to her name as she tucked home a penalty before the break.

The second half started the same way as the first had ended as Hincks took her tally to five after getting on the end of a fine through ball from Stow. The striker then made it six and 10 overall from close range.

Sampson got in on the act as the game entered the final 15 minutes. The biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Sarah Wentworth who completed her comeback from a serious injury that kept her sidelined for 14 months as she replaced Billie Brooks. Hincks then plundered her seventh and the Dons’ twelfth to cap off a memorable afternoon.

Speaking after the game, Dons boss Kevin Foster said: “The best bit about today was seeing Sarah Wentworth back after 14 months out. She’s a fantastic character. It’s difficult mentally for players when they go through tough injuries but she’s never let it show around the group. She’s always set a good example for our younger players and is a credit to the club.”

Wentworth also voiced her delight at being back, praising the team culture at the Dons. “It’s been amazing, it’s been hard don’t get me wrong but the medical staff, the girls and the management have all supported me,” she said.

The Dons are back at Carshalton Athletic on Sunday as they face Actonians in the quarter-finals of the Capital Cup.

Teams: AFC WIMBLEDON: Baker (Allen), Brooks (Wentworth), Highman (Billingham), Newman, Taylor, Plewa, Hincks, Sampson, Stow, Bath (Russell), Dorey (Boswell).

Scorers: Bath 2′, Dorey 6′, 31′. Hincks 27′, 38′, 42′, 45+2′, 46′, 52′, 86′. Highman 41′, Sampson 75′.

HOUNSLOW: Team not published

Attendance: 100.