The Cobblers Ladies upset the form book and came out top in a closely fought game against City, who had started the season with an unbeaten record.
Cobblers were quick out of the blocks and had the better of the early play, forcing a series of corners but the good delivery by Janine Holland, back in the team after three weeks absence, was not matched by the desire to get on the end of the delivery.
City settled a little and had a golden chance to score but after some good approach play the shot was flashed over the bar. It was a warning of what Welwyn were able to offer in attack, plenty of pace and width but they just lacked the final finish.
After that scare, the Cobblers defence were relatively comfortable and with Hayley Gallachi returned to her more usual position in defence, albeit on the right side, she showed her versatility as she settled back into the back line with ease.
The Cobblers took the lead after a free kick fell kindly to Nicki Robson who hammered a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Nicki has grown in stature over the course of the season so far and is fast becoming one of the most consistent performers in the centre of midfield with her high work rate.
After conceding the goal, City lifted their game and could easily have leveled but for a combination of a parried save from Serena Milenkovic in the Cobblers goal and then the awareness of Hayley to clear the ball at the far post.
That was a crucial moment of the first half as soon after the Cobblers doubled their lead following some good link play on the right side of midfield form Laura Sutherland who forced a corner with her persistence and Elsbeth Wood dispatched a great near-post header to make it two goals in two games.
The Cobblers could easily have stretched their lead with two gilt edged chances, the first saw Janine finishing off a flowing attacking move with a twenty five yard shot which hit the post with the keeper beaten all ends up. Within minutes, Laura hit the bar with a flashing shot which deserved better and topped off a first half performance which was as good as the team had produced so far this season. At the other end, Welwyn were denied a goal in the dying moments of the half when the outstanding Natalie Smith made a magnificent goal line clearing header which she did well to steer past the goal and not in it.
The second half saw Welwyn pressing hard to find an equaliser and had long spells of play in the Cobblers half but they were unable to make the breakthrough.
The Cobblers worked hard as a team to keep their first clean sheet of the season and Lisa Porter led her team by example with her encouragement and determination. The introduction of Lynsey Jelley for Sam Christie, Sophie Cappell for Steph Gale and Lucy Bateman for Elsbeth Wood, added fresh legs to the cause, with Sophie given the opportunity to use her pace and strength to keep the ball in the City half but chances were few and far between.
The half didn't go by without a note of controversy as Welwyn had what they thought was a valid goal disallowed for a handball which was seen by all but the referee, who initially awarded the goal but altered his decision after consulting with his assistant. This only served to motivate the away team to pile on the pressure in search of some reward for their efforts but Cobblers held out to take all three points.
A pleasing all-round performance by the Ladies keeps them in touch with the teams above them in the league and sets them up well for the second of the long journeys to the South Coast next week against Whitehawk F.C in Brighton.
