By Lauren Hawker. Thank-you Lauren.
Steyning Town Women 4 Leatherhead Women 2
Steyning stage second-half fight back to earn three points in the league.
Steyning Women were back on home soil at the Peter Humphrey Memorial Ground this Sunday as they welcomed Leatherhead Women for their third league fixture of the season. The hosts came into the contest with a point to prove, eager to shake off the disappointment of their last outing — a heavy 6–1 defeat away to Eastbourne Borough — and show signs of progress in front of their own supporters. With Leatherhead arriving in search of points themselves, the stage was set for a competitive clash.
Leatherhead began the contest on the front foot, pressing Steyning deep and forcing the home defence into early work. A sharp effort in the 7th minute brought a fine save from Steyning goalkeeper Lauren Graves, but the visitors struck moments later. In the 8th minute, Cassie Brown found space on the edge of the area and fired low into the bottom right corner to give Leatherhead the lead.
Steyning responded with intent, carving out chances of their own in the 15th and 16th minutes, though both efforts drifted wide. The pressure continued as another effort was kept out in the 22nd minute, yet the breakthrough proved elusive. Leatherhead, meanwhile, looked clinical. Brown struck again in the 28th minute, doubling her tally and the visitors’ advantage. Further efforts followed in the half hour mark, as Steyning struggled to clear their lines and retain possession in midfield.
The hosts, however, clawed their way back into the game before the break. In the 41st minute, Chloe Higham stepped up to take a free kick and curled a precise strike into the bottom right corner, pulling the score back to 1–2. That goal lifted the home side, who pressed for an equaliser, but despite their late pressure they could not unlock Leatherhead’s defence before the interval.
Steyning made the perfect start to the second half, drawing level within seconds of the restart as Chloe Higham struck again to make it 2–2.
The equaliser spurred Leatherhead into renewed attacking intent, but it was the hosts who seized control of the contest. In the 56th minute, Higham completed her hat-trick with another precise finish, turning the game on its head and giving Steyning a 3–2 lead.
Leatherhead pushed forward in search of a response, but Steyning grew in confidence, creating a series of chances that were either struck narrowly wide or denied by the visiting goalkeeper. At the other end, Lauren Graves remained a commanding presence, pulling off important saves to preserve her side’s advantage.
The hosts extended their lead in the 76th minute when Freya Boxer latched onto a through ball and showed composure to chip the ball over the advancing keeper, making it 4–2.
Leatherhead’s urgency only increased, with a quickly taken free kick in the 85th minute testing Graves once more, but the Steyning keeper stood firm.
As the closing stages grew more physical, Steyning held their shape and saw out the contest, completing a spirited turnaround to claim a 4–2 victory.
PotM: Chloe Higham
