Cambridge United beat Wycombe Wanderers in Junior Premier League thanks to Millie Docking’s hat-trick

Millie Docking’s hat-trick gave Cambridge United Women’s Under-18 a hard-earned win at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday to set up a potential winner-takes-all championship decider with leaders Derby County in their next Junior Premier League match, writes Robert Coe.

The versatile striker scored with both feet and a header in the 3-0 win which continued her team’s unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions.

Despite the scoreline, the junior U’s had to work hard for the victory with some players running more than 10km in the 90 minutes.

Positive performances in both defence and attack impressed coach Sean Greygoose, together with the way his team have put in the hard yards in their hunt for trophies.

“A really pleasing performance this weekend,” Greygoose said. “It was a different type of game and the girls’ attitude to dig in for periods of the game and be really hard to break down was brilliant.

“I feel like today showed a different side of the girls, where they didn’t have loads of the ball or create loads and loads of opportunities, but managed the game really well in terms stopping a good footballing Wycombe side, and then counter-attack to create the opportunities we had.

“In recent weeks we have spoken about how we create loads of chances but don’t seem to take many whereas today Millie took all her chances to win us the game.

“The biggest thing is the whole group’s attitude towards games and the effort they are putting in for the 90 minutes which showed with Lily-Grace (Cook, goalkeeper) making a good save at the end to get us another clean sheet.”

United looked solid in the opening exchanges with Lily Horsler and Holly Plummer strong in the midfield and Natasha Coe having two long-range shots on goal.

Docking beat her marker in the 39th minute and volleyed narrowly over but her first goal came in the next move when she collected the ball under pressure, turned and finished well. The goal gave the striker, who is recovering from a long-term injury, a timely confidence boost and she was involved in most of the attacking play, linking up well with Coe and Isabella Gjergji.

Wycombe started brightly after half-time and the United defence had to be at their best before they were rewarded in the final 10 minutes.

First Horsler had a free-kick saved but Docking reacted quickest to head home the rebound and then three minutes later the forward completed her hat-trick and made it 10 goals for the season when she picked up a loose ball and hit a 25-yard shot over the helpless goalkeeper.

In the final action deep in injury time Lily-Grace Cooke got down well in the United goal to collect the ball and keep another clean sheet.