View: Meg Hornby a shining light on night to forget for Portsmouth Women
Meg Hornby proved a shining lights for Portsmouth Women on a night to otherwise forget as Jay Sadler’s side lost 5-2 to London City Lionesses.
Pompey were already aware that qualification to the next stage of the Women’s League Cup was not possible heading into Wednesday’s (11 December) contest.
After thrashing Luton Town Ladies 5-0 last time out in the Women’s FA Cup, the manner of the loss to the Lionesses is a great shame.
The Lionesses are in the same division as Pompey, who have collected just one point from a possible 27 since making the climb up.
That makes the three-goal margin of defeat all the more frustrating for Sadler, although Hornby did at least step up on the night.
Meg Hornby scores twice in Portsmouth loss v London City Lionesses
The 24-year-old scored both of the home side’s goals at Westleigh Park – the first a follow-up from her own saved penalty and the second a long-range free-kick.
Those strikes were not enough for Pompey, of course, but it will no doubt give the forward plenty of confidence going forward.
The major positive is that Hornby still had the hunger to score even in a game in which the visitors were on top.
With this cup campaign at an end, focus now is on climbing the Championship table, with Sunderland up next on Sunday (15 December).
Hornby will have to maintain this form if Sadler’s side are to indeed make a positive impact on the league this season.
On the basis of the individual display against the London City Lionesses, there is no reason why that cannot be the case.
In other Portsmouth news, John Mousinho has explained why he is expecting a “different” challenge in the men’s side’s next fixture.
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