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Wilson works wonders for opening match
 It
was a successful managerial debut for Johnny Wilson on Sunday as he watched
his London Ladies side blitz Lancashire in Manchester.
Initially Lancashire started brightly fighting for possession in a scrappy
opening. After eight minutes Karen Togher pointed to give the girls from
the capital a lead they would never relinquish.
The stylish opening score was quickly followed by points from Ciara Redican,
Laura McDonough (2) and another from Togher on 16 minutes to give London
a five-point lead.
As Lancashire battled to get back into the game they were exposed at the
back and were punished by a fine individual goal from Anne-Marie Dargan
midway through the half.
Lancashire’s star performer Susan O’Donnell tried everything
to bring her team back into the game and the hosts were rewarded with
a point after 18 minutes.
With the game over as a contest London began to give an exhibition of
scoring with further points from Dargan, Togher, Carol McNicholas and
Ciara Redican to give them an unassailable 3-12 to 0-1 half-time lead.
After the break McNicholas and O’Donnell exchanged points. O’Donnell
pointed again for Lancashire but by then the win was in the bag for the
London side.
As the second-half progressed London, playing with a swagger, notched
further scores in this one-sided encounter.
Anne Woulfe and Laura McDonagh pointed before Togher, who would finish
the day with a personal tally of 2-4, and Roisin McEvoy scored goals in
quick succession.
The green flag was again raised by full-forward Redican whilst McDonagh
closed the scoring with a point leaving London comfortable winners by
6-18 to Lancashire’s 0-4.
Although the scoreline looks as if it was easy for London the defence
had to be alert at all times while debutant goalkeeper Zara Clarke was
called into action on a number of occasions as Lancashire aimed to put
some respectability on the scoreboard.
Johnny Wilson’s new regime seems to be in full swing and they will
next face Warwickshire on May 12 as they bid to retain the British title.
Six of the seven ladies clubs in London were represented on the starting
15 showing that Wilson and his back-room team have sparked a new level
of excitement in ladies football in the capital.
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