The game was off to a flying start with Shanklin settling the quicker and using the width to stretch the Shots. Within 3 minutes, the Shots found themselves a goal behind. The ball wasn't cleared popularly and as the Shots pushed up the ball hit one of the Shots players and played on the Shanklin player to give Calder no chance in goal.
The Shots started to press and were restricted to long-range efforts. Shanklin used the long ball to good effect and caught the Shots defence out a number of times pushing up too far. On 23 minutes, the Shots went 2 goals down, when the Shanklin player broke free and fired in from outside the box.
Five minutes later, and a rash tackle by a Shanklin player took Hann out on the far wing. The referee issued a caution for a reckless challenge to the Shanklin player, and Hann took no further part and the outlook is she has torn a ligament. Emily Wall replaced the injured striker.
The Shots reshuffled their pack at half time and from the off took the game to Shanklin. The shots seemed more dogged, and were able to get their passing game together. It was just the final ball that was letting them down.
7 minutes after the restart, and as they pressed, Caz Shepherd ran onto a deflected ball from Giberson, and from 18 yards hit a left-footed curling shot into the top off the net.
The Shots continued to press, and North and Shepherd (on for Funnell midway through the second half) started to take control of the midfield and McDonald was working well on the right. After a well-drilled corner from Smith, North headed just wide.
Again the Shots broke down the right and Wallman made space and fired in a shot, which the goalkeeper let go through her arms and run across the goalmouth, Danni Shepherd tried to fire into the net, which was blocked, the ball was played back in but Caz Shepherd was caught offside.
The Shots gave a mighty effort to draw level, but ran out off time.
Managers View
'I was very disappointed with our first half display and we didn't really get going. Our second half was 100% better with commitment, drive and we got our passing game going. It's not going to happen over night and we have been working on a lot of things this season, the players just need to be level-headed and the football will come.
It was disappointing to lose Laura Hann through injury, but it as not bad as we thought and she could be back in action in a couple of weeks.'
Squad
Calder, Grover, Funnell (D. Shepherd 68'), Smith, Coles, Giberson (Hart 75'), North, C. Shepherd, Hann (Wall 28'), McDonald, Wallman.
Player of the Match: Caz Shepherd