Archive for May 2014
Notts County Ladies’ clash with Chelsea Ladies was broadcast live by BT Sports and the viewers witnesses County thrash Chelsea 0-0!
The County defense was virtually impenetrable and their attack unstoppable but despite their total dominance of the game in every department Notts couldn’t find the back of the Chelsea net to secure all 3 points and had to settle for a draw.
Here’s the game in words and pictures:
The warm-ups were enlivened by the introduction of several large hair bands – not sure to whom they belonged but the rumour is they were Katie Holtham’s.
They were put to good use by the coaches as a creative method of getting the blood flowing and the muscles pumping.
The BT Sports camera man looks on in bewilderment as Jess Clarke really starts to get in to it.
Desiree Scott and the girls find having a large BT Sports camera practically stuffed up their noses amusing.
BT Sports microphones; Red, Green and Blue, were out in force. I’m running a competition this week – first person to tell me what the colour coding denotes wins a free photography portrait session.
Staines Town FC was the venue for this game and the teams lined up for the Staines national anthem.
Notice the 3 match officials all looking in different directions – this was to be a continuing theme throughout the game.
The game kicked-off with Notts dominating from the first whiste. As with so many games before Notts attack featured shots and crosses from Dunia Susi and Jess Clarke who from the first minutes were causing Chelsea problems.
Jess Clarke fires at goal but pulls it wide.
When Chelsea weren’t having to deal with Clarke they were having to cope with Susi.
Dunia Susi’s shot is blocked by desperate defending just inside the Chelsea 18 yard box.
Notts kept piling on the pressure as Chelsea struggled to get out of their starting blocks and their own half.
Jess Clarke turns provider and sends another cross in to the Chelsea box. Her work rate throughout the 90 minutes was phenomenal, as usual.
Chelsea number 24 Spence just managers to get to the crossed ball first to thwart another County attack.
On the half hour mark a County cross was met by Jess Clarke on the 6 yard line ….. surely this was going to be 1-0…..
… but the ball flew past goalkeeper Endler’s nearside post.
County go oh so close.
County continued to dominate Chelsea in all departments and whilst snuffing out any potential Chelsea threat continued to drive forwards themselves and when Caitlin Friend drove in to the box she was brought down by the Chelsea defender. The Linesman flagged and the Referee blew for a foul – Penalty to Notts! But no. After several seconds of blank deliberation the referee decided the foul was outside the box. An unbelievable decision that baffled everybody. Rachel Corsie’s free kick was blocked by the wall and this event seemed to set the tone for some very indiscriminate and erratic officiating.
Unrelenting pressure from Notts resulted in another corner taken by Caitlin Friend and a well rehearsed set-piece saw the ball driven in low to the edge of the 6 yard box where it was met by Rachel Corsie only to see her volley smothered by the Chelsea keeper.
Rachel Corsie goes close for Notts.
Notts number 4 Katie Hoyle charges the Chelsea keeper in an attempt to block her kick…….
…… and almost gets her head taken off for her troubles! Katie exemplified the effort and committed work rate shown by the whole team in this game.
The game was also very physical and if anybody thought the women’s game was played with less passion and competitive spirit then they need to get down to watch a game live.
Another lost contact lens is searched for during the game. It was probably the referee’s. Katie seems to have found it in the hair of the Chelsea player.
The half time whistle went with everybody (well, at least the County fans) wondering how we hadn’t scored at least 2 or 3 goals.
The ‘Stalwarts’ – perennial Notts fanatics Sal and Tid.
Half time entertainment was provided by the impromptu Chelsea fans brass band. They were pretty damn good too. They played throughout most of the game, delighting us with such renditions as ‘The Pink Panther’, ‘The Great Escape’ and ‘Will the Real Slim Shady Please Stand Up’.
With sheet music too – how professional. Not sure about those checked shorts though.
As previously mentioned BT Sports were covering the game with a live transmission (which I’ll watch later to find out what happened). They had a luxury commentary box constructed especially for the occasion.
I think BT Sports commentary box had seen service previously as some kid’s Tree House.
The second half resumed with no let up from the Notts ladies – it was business as usual as they continued to press for a goal. As the half wore on it was the midfield dynamo Desiree Scott that came closest as County continued to dominate and Endler did well to tip the Canadian international’s shot on to the crossbar. And at the other end of the pitch it was Scott along with the rest of the Notts defense that had kept England International Eniola Aluko quiet all day.
Desiree Scott turns in another remarkable performance to help Notts keep a clean sheet.
Chelsea soaked up more pressure in a very one-sided game. Jess Clarke working down both flanks.
Manager Passmoor looks on as Clarke torments the Chelsea defense.
As in the first half Dunia Susi can’t find a way past Chelsea’s desperate defending.
Rafferty and Brett disagree on the best way to go about marking Susi.
Both teams combine for a Guinness World Records attempt for the most players heading the ball at one time.
A difference of opinion breaks out! Chelsea’s England International Katie Chapman had scythed down a County player and finds herself being asked some serious questions by the Notts players. At this point tackles were flying in thick and fast and the game was in danger of boiling over.
With Notts dominating possession but unable to score Carly Telford was a spectator for most of the game but late in the second half she needed to be alive to tip the ball over the bar from an in-swinging corner.
Carly Telford leaps from her pitch-side deckchair from where she”d been watching the game to deftly turn the ball over the bar.
Another cross and another missed opportunity for Notts as Susi is crowded out.
With only a few minutes to go a rare Chelsea attack got as far as the edge of the County 18 yard box where the Referee awarded a free kick against Notts (possibly for an untied boot lace – who knows?). Chelsea’s Yuki Ogimi placed the ball as Carly Telford organised her wall. If Chelsea scored now it would be heartbreaking and totally against the run-of-play. Yuki Ogimi stepped up and hit the ball crisply…..
….. and thankfully put the ball in the Leyandii trees behind the goal. Phew!
Minutes later the Referee, after being shown which end of the whistle to blow down, blew for full time and the game ended goalless. I think Chelsea felt they got the better of the deal as realistically the score could have been 4-0 in favour of County. But an away point is not too bad either and going in to the FAWSL 4 week break puts Notts 3rd in the table with a game in hand on Manchester City in 2nd.
Katie Holtham finally gets her hairband back but looks upset that its stretched out of shape.
An honourable draw was played out at Notts County Ladies’ Meadow Lane home ground yesterday. Notts went toe to toe with last season’s League Champions and in the beautiful summer sunshine probably just shaded the contest and were unlucky not to take all three points. The results sees the Lady Pies (promised I wouldn’t used that term. Damn) stay top of the FAWSL as the League moves in to the summer break.
Here’s the game in words and pictures:
The crowd started to drift in to the stadium well ahead of time to bask in the sunshine. Here’s a couple of stalwart baskers – Tid (on the right) and Sal (on the left) who haven’t missed a game this season and will be off to Chelsea next week to cheer on the girls.
Whilst the girls were warming up Manager Mr Passmoor entertained the crowd with some of his own ball skills. I had to take 327 shots until he got this right! 🙂
The game kicked off with both teams testing each other out and trying to keep possession as best they could. As usual Clarke and Susi carried the threat for County raiding down the wings and either getting a shot off or whipping in a cross.
Last ditch tackle prevents Jess Clarke from hitting the target.
Desiree Scott steers the ball goalwards after a good run.
As the game progressed is was County that was carving out the better chances – in fact I don’t recall Liverpool threatening the Notts goal with a shot on target during the first half. Carly Telford had the suntan lotion on and was reclined in a deckchair.
County kept the pressure on – Clarke fires wide.
Aileen Whelan – who had a great game – passes the ball confidently out of the back.
Clarke lashes another shot toward the Liverpool goal and keeper Libby Stout.
And certainly Liverpool keeper Stout was the busier goalie on the day.
When the whistle went for half time and both teams trooped off to rehydrate, the score was still deadlocked at 0-0. It was a tense encounter but there was a real sense that County might just come away with all 3 points especially as their defense looked very solid and hadn’t given Liverpool a sniff at goal for 45 minutes.
The second half resumed in the same pattern – County creating better chances and both teams giving no quarter. In fact a little bit of ‘niggle’ started to creep in to the game.
Susi and Bonner fight for the ball.
Jess Clarke finds space to receive the ball much to the frustration of the Liverpool player.
Susi sees the funny side of an ‘air kick’ down the sideline…….
…. but is back on her feet minutes later to fire a shot over the bar as Liverpool’s 6 Lucy Bronze tries to block it.
The ‘argy-bargy’ creeps in as Whelan and Davison begin an altercation.
Jess Clarke and Becky Easton grapple with each other whilst waiting to head the ball.
Another ball whipped in to the Liverpool box is defended bravely by the away side.
County kept the pressure on the Merseysiders but still couldn’t create that clear cut chance on goal. In the battle of the forwards between Clarke and Dowie; Clarke was edging it.
Liverpool and England striker Natasha Dowie had meager picking all day long as County made sure that they never left her one-on-one.
Jess Clarke seems to be diving for the ball with keeper Stout. Watch out Carly – jess is after your position.
An arty-farty shot from the photographer employing a negative-space technique, which none of you reading this care about, so I’ll just say that this free kick was one of a limited number of attacks on the County goal. Notts defense played better than I’ve seen them play all season.
And then with only a few minutes left on the clock; the moment we’d been waiting for – the ball was played out wide to Dunia Susi who outstripped her marker and drove in to the Liverpool box. With only the keeper to beat from 12 yards she struck the ball with grace and finesse and not a considerable amount of power to send the ball toward the beckoning Liverpool net! The crowd held its breath. The keeper was beaten … but the ball edged inches wide of the post! Aaarghh – agony.
After great work from Scott to rob the ball and set Susi free down the right flank County’s best chance of the game goes wide of the post.
And that about wrapped it up. With a few minutes of injury time played the whistle went for full time and the game ended in a draw. A fair result that both teams probably would have taken prior to kick-off but in reality Notts had the better chances and might have been a little disappointed not to have stolen all 3 points.
The large crowd, with a significant number of traveling Liverpool supporters, really got behind their teams to create a great atmosphere today and were treated to some wonderful football of the highest level. Well done girls.
The County players warm-down and stretch after the game watched over by Ellen White.
But not everybody could relax……
… Jess Clarke had to face the press after the game. Good job the head groundsman didn’t see those blue high heels!
Notts County returned to winning ways last night after their defeat to Everton in the semi final of the FA Cup by putting 4 past Oxford in the Continental Cup. It was a scrappy affair played on a very uneven pitch that had more bounce than Tigger. And whilst fans may have expected a bigger scoreline, with Notts top of the FAWSL and Oxford bottom of Division 2, the girls put in a workman-like shift to come away with all 3 points.
Oxford tried to sneak two unsigned players on to the park but the match officials spotted them as they came out on to the pitch – just as well too, as those two would have caused serious problems in the box with their height!
5 by 5! Captains Sahara Osborne-Ricketts (Oxford) and Sophie Bradley (Notts) shake hands before kick-off.
Stalwart Pies supporters TIDS and SUES (jeez – I hope I got those names right, they’ll kill me otherwise) look on whilst predicting an 8 goal bonanza pre-match.
The game kicked off with Notts doing all the pressing and Oxford doing all the chasing down. With confident ball being played across the back and down the flanks Notts probed for an early goal. The following few minutes saw County fire numerous shots goal-wards only to see them blocked as Oxford threw bodies in front of the ball. The best chance came to Caitlin Friend when a cross found her unmarked at the back post but she was unable to connect cleanly with the ball and scuffed it wide.
Just before the half hour good work from Corsie and Clarke saw a ball fired in to the near post and this time 22 Caitlin Friend made no mistake to open the scoring for Notts.
Notice how I’ve skilfully managed to photograph Caitlin scoring Notts’ first goal without having the ball in shot! Her Dad will kill me.
A frustrating period followed for Notts as they failed to improve on the lead. In fact Oxford had one or two chances that might have drawn them level. County continued to have the better of the game and saw numerous shots fly wide or over the bar but went in at half time just the one goal to the good.
Jess Clarke flies down the wing!
Pies supporters fly the flag.
Best seat in the house! The FAWSL were in attendance. I wonder if they ever did get that interview with Dunia Susi?
The second half resumed with the sun dipping below the horizon and the Oxford (Abington Town FC) floodlights coming on. Unfortunately they seemed to be powered by AA batteries. Notts seemed to increase the speed with which they passed the ball in this half and consistently found space behind the Oxford full backs. With only a few minutes played in the second half County bagged their second goal when Katie Holtham nodded down an Emily Roberts’ free kick for Jess Clarke to poke the ball home in the resulting melee.
Katie Holtham rises to the occasion to head the ball goal-wards.
Jess Clarke (she’s in there somewhere honest) gets to the ball first to poke home Notts second goal. Rachel Corsie (12) celebrates. In fact this is probably the most extravagant celebration I’ve seen all season!
Minutes later another swinging cross and a nod down led to a save by the Oxford keeper that Jess Clarke pounced on to head home only to see the goal ruled out by the officials for some infraction in the box.
Goalie stranded Jess heads in to an empty net but the Referee said ‘No’.
The game had now settled in to a pattern – with Notts on the rampage looking to increase their lead and Oxford back peddling and defending gallantly but desperately. And it was only a matter of time before Notts added to their tally when Roberts swung in yet another free kick from out wide and this time Jess Clarke steered a powerful header past Hannah Cox in the Oxford goal.
Clarke scores Notts third goal.
At this point one began to fear for Oxford and it looked like TIDS’ prediction of 8 goals might become reality as a minute or two later Aileen Whelan got on the score sheet. Jess Clarke beat her defender to clip a ball to the back post where Aileen Whelan was lurking. She made no mistake form 3 yards out and put Notts 4-0 up.
Number 20 Aileen Whelan nets for Notts.
And that was it. I sat there expecting a flurry of goals (strange expression) but they didn’t come. I also expected Oxford to run out of steam in the last 15 minutes too, but that didn’t happen either. In fact they gave a very good account of themselves against their lofty opponents. So the final whistle went with no further goals to add and County maintained their unbeaten run in the competition and bounced back from their defeat to Everton like good little Tiggers.
I wonder if FAWSL ever did get that interview with Dunia Susi?
The accepted wisdom is the losing in the semi-final of a F.A Cup is the worse stage at which to lose. It certainly felt that way today as Notts Ladies went out 2-1 to Everton Ladies at The Impact Arena in Alfreton. An hour before the game it looked as if the whole show may have to be called off as the heavens opened at the rained rained down in stair rods for a good half hour. This was replaced by bright sunshine, followed by lighter rain which set the pattern for the rest of the afternoon.
Here are the words and pictures from a disappointing afternoon:
The TV cameras were there for the WSL as Notts warmed up.
Ellen White put in an appearance with the aid of crutches. Nice to see you Ellen.
The ref brings the players out for the start of the game – yup, it’s raining again ref.
The rain started again as the teams shook hands before kick-off.
The Alfreton Town FC pitch was in fantastic shape and the surface water soon drained away. Jess Clarke on the attack again and found herself up against a tough opponent all game.
Dunia Susi worked tirelessly all day, starting attack after attack down the flanks.
Notts battled but Everton were not giving any quarter and the first half remained a competitive affair with both teams playing out from the back with confidence. But just as Notts seemed to be gaining the upper hand they found themselves 0-1 down. An Everton corner was converted by Nikita Parris when her run took her in front of the County defense where she headed the ball, uncontested, in to the back of the net.
Nikita Parris heads home for Everton to make it 1-0 to the Toffees.
County continued to press and started to create chances of their own in search of an equaliser. Mid way through the half good work from Jess Clarke saw her fouled just outside the box as she thundered a shot goalwards.
Jess Clarke wins Notts a free kick.
Something sneaky is going on here – looking like something off the training ground Clarke and Friend hide the ball and Rachel Corsie from the Everton Keeper.
Clarke and Friend step aside and Rachel Corsie hits the free kick. The crowd held their breath as the ball swung inches wide of the far post.
Then disaster for Notts and Carly Telford when an Everton attack down the right side resulted in the ball being driven low to Telford near post and although the keeper seemed to have the shot covered the ball somehow spilled free for Nikita Parris to poke home from only inches out.
Oh no!
Down but not out. The Notts defense try to raise their spirits after conceding the second goal.
County had the ball in the back of the net minutes later but unfortunately it was still attached to the Everton keeper and the referee deemed it a foul.
County continued to pile on the pressure but the Everton defense held firm.
With only a few minutes left in the half Amy Turner’s speculative shot almost caught Everton keeper Brown-Finnis out but she managed to get a hand on the ball to tip it around the angle of the post and crossbar.
Keeper Brown-Finnis, who had a solid game, barely manages to deflect a shot around the post.
That was pretty much it for the first half and I squelched to the other end of the pitch in the hope of photographing County’s fightback and to ruminate on the first 45 minutes. County seemed to have the better of the game but Everton capitalized on the few chances they got. Everton’s number 9 Parris was a particular thorn in Nott’s side the whole of the first half.
The second half started with County seeming to have more spark and they started to increase the pressure on their opponents although Parris still offered a constant threat for Everton. Then with only 10 minutes gone County found just what they were looking for – a bloody equaliser! Sophie Walton and Katie Holtham combined to send the ball towards goal and Katie Hoyle in the Everton box, who managed to get an outstretched foot on it to guide the ball past Brown-finnis in the Everton goal to give Notts a well deserved foothold in this game.
Katie Hoyle pulls one back for Notts.
Then it was constant pressure from County. Corners and crosses were whipped in to the Everton box keeper Brown-Finnis was on top form to punch clear almost every County attack.
Brown-finnis punches clear again. ……..
…….. and again!
Aileen Whelan’s shot is blocked by the Everton defense as County pile on the pressure.
The Everton keeper gets to the ball first yet again!
With the score at 2-1 to Everton Jess Clarke picked the ball up in midfield and from a full 25 yards out beat the Everton keeper with a shot that smacked against the Everton post. But Brown-finnis wasn’t to be beaten again and dealt with everything County threw at her from then on; getting her fists on cross after cross as time ran out for the Pies.
But with only a few minutes remaining County worked the ball in to the Everton box where Aileen Whelan laid it back in to space for Dunia Susi on the edge of the box who side footed it with tremendous power only to see it skim over the top of the bar!
Susi with the chance of equalising in the dying moments of the game hits the ball over the bar.
The referee blew the final whistle after 4 minutes of extra time and Notts were out of the F.A Cup.
The Toffees celebrate.
Dania Susi reflects on what might have been.
No ‘cheesy grins’ this week, just long faces that reflect hard-to-bear defeat. County gave a good account of themselves and had all the possession and pressure in the second half but just couldn’t find the equaliser, which had they done so would probably have seen them go on to win the game. Bad luck, but well played ladies.
Notts County Ladies undefeated season continued this afternoon after a hard fought 1-1 draw with Bristol Academy Ladies at Meadow Lane.
After whupping Aston Villa 5-0 in the same competition last Wednesday, Notts started this game against Bristol with the same attitude and work ethic, albeit against much tougher opposition. Bristol also play in the top flight of the WSL with Notts although their season has been less accomplished to date. Oh, and I found out why its called the ‘Continental Cup’ – nothing to do with traveling to Italy or Spain for the away legs, nope, its because its sponsored by Continental Tyres. Not quite so glamorous but I’m glad we finally got to grips with the reason for the name.
But wait – lets back up a little and take a look at the Notts team warming up before this match – then we’ll launch in to the match pics and report.
This warm-up drill is called ‘hands up if you can see a photographer’. Sophie Haywood wins this round scoring 10 points for a cheeky grin to camera.
The second round was won by Katie Hoyle whom collected 15 points for this brazen cheesy grin to camera.
With Katie and Sophie and the rest of the squad stretched and ready to go Notts took to the field looking to wrestle all 3 points from Bristol Academy – yeah, I know it’s a cup game but think Champions League group stages and you’ll be about there. Notts started the game on the attack and employed the same tactics that saw them take all 3 points last week – the ball was played quickly out of defense with through balls looking for Dunia Susi down the right side and Jess Clarke down the left.
Dunia Susi on one of her may runs down the right flank. Bristol’s defense worked hard all day to keep her attempts on goal to a minimum.
Jess Clarke was on her usually effervescent form and fizzed and popped all over the pitch.
However the Bristol defense was not to be breached as easily as the Villa back four. With determined tackling and blocking Bristol weathered the early storm and began to get a foothold in the game. Noticeably their goalkeeper Mary Earps was very comfortable in distributing the ball out to her full backs and getting the ball back again to switch play.
Bristol were quite happy to continually play the ball across their back four using their keeper causing the County attack and midfield to scurry back and forth to close them down.
Notts began to make capital from this pressure though and with one or two Bristol clearances finding touch Bristol started to struggle to move the ball down field until a contested ball dropped between Jess Clarke and Bristol’s number 19 Jemma Rose; Clarke got the better of her opponent and turning back inside toward the Bristol goal unleashed a thunderbolt that dipped under the bar and just out of reach of Earps desperately flailing fingers to open the scoring.
Notts number 7 Jess Clarke rockets a shot just under the bar to beat keeper Mary Earps.
At this point I had my camera poised to capture Jess’s celebration and possibly that of the whole County team as the ran to congratulate her…….
This is what I got from them! Look familiar? Yup – same as last’s week’s celebration. But wait…….
….. what’s this? Obviously Jess had some ‘happy dance’ celebration rehearsed but her teams mates can be seen here quite obviously restraining her from performing it! Ah well, there’s always next week. But Jess gets 5 points on the ‘Cheesy Grin to Camera’ table for this shy grin to camera. : )
The game continued in much the same vein with Notts applying the pressure and Bristol working the ball across their back four and down field through their midfield. Notts restricted them to only a few half chances during the first half.
Nott’s Rachel Corsie brings the ball deep out of the County half to thwart Bristol once more and set up another attack.
The first half finished with Notts going in with a 1-0 lead and I headed off to the other end of the pitch ready for more County goals and a marked improvement in goal celebrations. : )
The second half was a more evenly contested affair with Bristol easing their way in to the game with more possession. Notts had one or two close scrapes when all of a sudden an innocuous inter change of passes on the edge of the County 18 yard box saw Bristol’s number 10 Nikki Watts slot the ball past Notts keeper Carly Telford and in to the far right corner of the net. Notts 1 – 1 Bristol. Boo!
County seemed to pick up the pace a little after that and with good work from Dunia Susi down the right and Jess Clarke down the center and far right Notts came close with a couple of scrappy efforts on goal. More pressure came by way of a corner but to no avail.
In a desperate scramble Notts fail to breakdown the Bristol defense.
Spot the ball! Its in there somewhere. Notice Notts number 12 Rachel Corsie trying to lift number 16 Katie Holtham off the ground ‘Rugby Union’ style to gain an advantage. Good thinking Rachel. : )
Two break aways by Bristol put the frighteners on Notts as Telford scrambled a shot away from her near post and then with time running out Bristol came close to snatching a winner; first when Bristol number 16 Angharad James had the goal at her mercy from 12 yards out but fired a weak shot that Telford smothered easily; and then moments later an ambitious overhead kick in the Notts penalty box failed to deliver the killer blow thanks to Amy Turner‘s intervention.
Amy Turner get a crucial leg in the way as the Bristol forward fails to connect with the ball.
In the dying seconds of the game Notts launched one last attack on the Bristol goal aimed at Sophie Haywood, but the talented 23 was clattered by the Bristol defense with an unceremonious knee up the back-side!
Ouch! Just ouch! Sophie Haywood on the ..erm, receiving end.
With 4 minutes of extra time played the referee blew for full time with the tie ending even and the points shared. Once again the crowd had been treated to a hugely skilful and determined effort from Notts County Ladies in a very entertaining match in which Bristol Academy played their part. Well done girls.
Hands shakes all round after a hard fought game.
Okay now this is either:
A. A post game team talk.
B. An impromptu meeting soliciting opinions on a better goal celebration for future games.
C. Somebody has lost a contact lens and the whole squad is helping to look for it.
Oh and finally:
The ‘Cheesy Grin to Camera’ Table:
Katie Hoyle – 15 points
Sophie Haywood – 10 points
Jess Clarke – 5 points
Not content with topping the WSL (Womens Super League) table and progressing to the semi-final of the Women’s FA Cup, Notts County Ladies thrashed Aston Villa Ladies 5-0 in the Continental Cup (I’ll come back to you later as to why this competition is so named – puzzling me at the moment) last night at Meadow Lane!
Here’s a quick report and lots of pictures in case you missed the match:
County dominated the first half from the start, looking a lot quicker to the ball and on numerous occasions setting Jess Clarke and Dunia Susi free to maul the Villa defense. So it was no surprise when Susi got on the end of a cross unchallenged to head home Nott’s first of five goal just minutes in to the game.
Dunia Susi heads home from close range and went on to terrorise the Villa defense for most of the evening.
The ladies celebrate Susi’s goal who is either sending 21 Roberts off or acknowledging the excellent cross from Jess Clarke that created the first goal.
From that moment on the writing seemed on the wall for Aston Villa Ladies. With Notts switching play at will and sliding passes down the channels left and right the Villa back four were under continual pressure and it wasn’t long before they conceded their second goal in the shape of a Jess Clarke side foot.
Jess Clarke rampaged all evening and slots home her first of two goals. There were more celebration after this goal but see the celebration pic above for reference each time you look at a goal being scored, they all looked the same. In fact somebody should have a word with the girls about these goal celebrations – I need some more entertaining stuff to shoot. : )
Caitlin Friend added a third goal for Notts (her first for the club I believe) as Notts continued to pull the Aston Villa defense apart. Their only respite being an attack on the Notts goal that saw the ball cannon off the outside of the post with the Notts keeper, Carly Telford, rooted to the spot.
Susi was a continual thorn in Villa’s side as she showed her wonderful athletic ball control and quick feet.
O’Neil takes a throw for County in front of the gloomy Villa dugout and the happy County faithful in the Pavis Stand.
Jess Clarke flies down the left wing (again) on another Notts first half attack that saw County put the game beyond reasonable doubt after 45 minutes of play.
With a fourth goal looking inevitable County continued to press and probe the Villa defense and it was a finely flighted ball in to open space down the left side again that set Dunia Susi free once more. Latching on to the through pass she steamed in to her opponents half and just outside the 18 yard box was confronted by the Villa goalkeeper Leach, whom may have been better advised to stay in her goal as Susi put in a half stop and then elegantly skipped around the stranded goalie to drive into the penalty area and smack the ball into an empty net.
Dunia Susi leaves the Villa keeper wishing she’d stayed on her line. I blame those socks. What were they thinking?
Dunia Susi slams the ball in to the back of the Villa net with aplomb (you’ve no idea how long I’ve waited to use that word in a sentence. And have you noticed its only a word used in football commentary? Never hear your average punter in the street talking about his mate fixing his broken carburetor with ‘aplomb’ do you!
So that was the first half. I wandered down to the opposite end of the ground, skilfully avoiding the water cannons used to wet the pitch at half time, where I set about my feast of a ‘packed lunch’ consisting of a packet of crisps and one of those little bottles of stuff that reduce your cholesterol – yum. Looking around; the crowd was not as big as for the game against Arsenal but then this was a cup tie against a 2nd division side so that may have had something to do with it. Once again the football had been entertaining and mercifully free of all those annoying things prevalent in men’s top flight football, like simulation, taking 5 minutes to take a free kick and chasing the referee around the pitch trying to change his decision. Way to go WSL.
The second half was a different game!
County seemed to take their foot off the peddle. Villa seemed to find a more combative spirit and held a higher and stronger line that saw County run off-side time and time again. Villa seemed to be having the lion’s share of the possession too. So it was a relief when Jess Clarke timed her run perfectly and got on the end of another through ball to score arguably the best goal of the night. With the Villa defender closing and about to get a block on the shot, Clarke lashed the ball past the keeper with the outside of her right foot. No easy ask running at full pace.
Jess Clarke’s second and her best. Generating enough power with the outside of the boot like that to beat the keeper when you are still 16 yards out is not easy.
The coaches were happy. And this was BEFORE the game. I told them it would be 4 or 5 nil. They needn’t have worried. : )
Well done girls.
Drew Smith Photography 