The new season of the FA Women's Super League 2 has arrived, and after an exciting debut season in 2014, the new campaign looks to as exciting and competitive in 2015 with not one but two promotion places up for grabs. The venue tonight Sutton Coldfield Town FC home of Aston Villa Ladies as they kick off their league fixtures against Everton Ladies.
Aston Villa Ladies got off to a slow start in FAWSL 2 last season, but once they started to get some wins under their belts, went on a good run in the latter half of the season to finish in 4th place. The club will hope to build on that high finish this season.
For Everton Ladies the FAWSL 2 is something new as the club have the unenviable tag of being the 1st team relegated from WSL 1 having been involved in the top flight of women's football for 21 years. Was a tough season in the league last year, but of course they did have the high of getting to an FA Women's Cup final. Will be looking to bounce straight back up into WSL 1 at the 1st time of asking.
Coles Lane the venue, home of Sutton Coldfield Town FC and Aston Villa Ladies, a reminder from last season that the pitch is a synthetic all weather surface. Good refreshments to be had after a 2 and half hour drive, cheeseburger and chips with a cup of tea for £4.50 will do me. A cool and clear night dry, good weather for March as the summer league begins.
Aston Villa Ladies starting XI - Caitlin Leach, Elisha N'Dow, Jade Richards, Emily Owen, Hannah George, Sherry McCue (C), Olivia Fergusson, Maddy Cusack, Alicia Robinson, Sarah Mayling & Katie Wilkinson.
subs- Abigail Cottam, Hayley Crackle, Katie Moran, Beth Merrick, Jess Myers & Kerri Welsh.
Everton Ladies starting XI - Kirsty Levell, Vicky Jones, Ellie Stewart, Paige Williams, Danielle Lea, Gabrielle George, Danielle Turner, Michelle Hinnigan (C), Kelly Jones, Lucy Whipp & Claudia Walker.
subs - Megan Walsh, Lindsey Johnson, Jess King, Megan Alexander, Millie Turner & Danielle Young.
Both sides will be looking for a good start 3 points on the board. With Rachel Brown-Finnis retiring Everton had a new goal keeper between the sticks, have two very good young keepers at the club, Megan Walsh and Kirsty Levell, it was the latter who was starting tonight as Everton kitted out in blue shirts and shorts with navy socks kicked off the match against Aston Villa lined up in claret and blue.
Aston Villa start the brighter of the two sides the ball is played into the right channel where Katie Wilkinson has peeled off to receive the ball holds it up well before sending a squared pass into Maddy Cusack arriving on the edge of the area she strikes for goal, Levell is alert makes a good save pushing the ball behind for a corner. From the corner the ball is sent into a crowded six yard box, Aston Villa's Sarah Mayling gets her head to the ball turns it goal wards however Vicky Jones defending the far post for Everton gets her head to the ball to clear off the line.
Is a large pitch Everton are looking to, when they win the ball to spray it out wide, for either Kelly Jones or Danielle Turner to take it forwards look to get into a crossing position. Win a couple of free kicks over the half way line that Paige Williams is looking to deliver into the area, up from the back Gabrielle George jumps inside the area gets her head to the ball, Aston Villa have bodies in the way to block the ball.
GOAL! It's from another free kick given away by Aston Villa that Everton Ladies take the lead, 10 yards inside the Aston Villa half to the left of the pitch Williams is over the ball again plays it long picks out Turner, she sends a cross into the box, Jade Richards comes to meet it head it clear, knocks it down unfortunately against team mate Elisha N'Dow the ball is deflected back towards goal squirming inside the post even as Caitlin Leach throws herself down to try and stop it. Own goal. 0-1.
Aston Villa look to strike back immediately, can get the ball forwards quickly with progressive passing, into the final third the ball is played into Mayling, she looks to take the shot on 25 yards from goal sends her effort over. Their next attack down the left it's Alicia Robinson who looks to shoot catch Levell off guard, strikes it low 35 yards out, not enough pace as Levell gets her angles right has her near post covered.
Everton are looking to be more direct when they win the ball back usually Williams she has a good range of passing with runners prepared to break from midfield in front of her notably captain Michelle Hinnigan, pushing on Williams tries to pick her out as she threatens to go beyond the Aston Villa back line, Emily Owen is quick to react and cut off the intented pass. Getting the ball out wide Everton play a crossfield ball with Kelly Jones making the run gets beyond the Aston Villa defence this time Leach though is quick to come out to the edge of the area claim the ball.
Needing their captain Sherry McCue to get hold of the ball, break up Everton's attacks before they can begin Aston Villa are seeing plenty of the ball are getting numbers forwards not quick enough the final ball isn't coming before Everton can get everyone back into position.
Half-time Aston Villa Ladies 0-1 Everton Ladies
Decent 1st half good football from both sides. Aston Villa started the brighter without really carving Everton's defence open before the visitors went 1 up a little against the run of play an own goal. Williams playing deep has caused a few problems with her range of passes. Aston Villa kick off the 2nd half.
Start the brighter once again, good build up a low cross is fired in from the left comes to Mayling she does well under challenge to hold the ball up sees Wilkinson bearing down towards the box to recieve the lay off, the ball finds her, Everton have the numbers back by then to prevent the shot coming in.
Wilkinson has another great chance when her her team get awarded a free kick at the top of the D. Looks to have a strike on goal the ball taking a deflection off the wall and going away for a corner. Aston Villa's delivery from corners has been very good this one is swept in centrally into the congested six yard box, Levell gloves the ball down and recovers it quickly. Everton make their 1st change with Lindsey Johnson coming on for Danielle Lea in defence.
GOAL! Despite Aston Villa's bright start 2nd half it's Everton who extend their lead, another Williams free kick from a long way out is played into the box comes through to Danielle Turner, who takes the ball down and bursts forwards taking it out to the left of goal the angle is an acute one but she rifles the shot home to make it 0-2.
Aston Villa make a substitute straight after the goal bringing on new signing Abigail Cottam with Olivia Fergusson giving way. Everton's Claudia Walker is frustrated as Williams gets the ball through to her with Aston Villa defending a high line, a close call the linesmans flag is up.
More changes with Everton making their 2nd substitution, it's Walker who comes off with Jess King another new signing coming on. Aston Villa bring on Kerri Welsh up front for Maddy Cusack. Wilkinson wins the ball for Aston Villa high up the pitch on the left she comes inside looks to release Welsh making the run into the Everton area, sets her away, left of the goal she pulls the trigger smashes the ball against the diving Levell, Welsh looks to get after the loose ball, by the time she does her 2nd attempt is blocked before a foul is given away.
Williams once again with time and space on the ball has Lucy Whipp making an attacking move across the Aston Villa defence the ball comes through to her she has both N'Dow and Richards for company still manages to stab a shot towards goal as she enters the box, can only pick out Leach waiting to scoop the ball up.
N'Dow comes off for Aston Villa with Hayley Crackle coming on and going into the right back position. Everton have Hinnigan powering forwards into the area again the ball comes in high she tries to bring it under control can't but does have Vicky Jones in support to her right, in between Aston Villa defender Hannah George makes the tackle to stop any scoring chance.
Aston Villa look more of a threat up front with Welsh giving Wilkinson good support is putting herself about keeping the Everton defence occupie meaning the home side can get further forwards . Last change for Everton with Hinnigan coming off and Millie Turner coming on and it's Turner who wins the ball in the middle and bringing it out slides it forwards into Whipp she is clipped on the ankle as she comes into the area but stays on her feet and on the turn strikes the ball goal wards, not wide enough to beat the diving save from Leach.
GOAL! It is as Everton are building some good momentum towards the end of the match that Aston Villa pull a goal back. The ball is put forwards to Wilkinson on the right of the area, has Welsh with her plays the ball square getting onto the ball Welsh looks to go across the goal, has Abigail Cottam covering the ground to offer herself at the far post fizzes the ball into her, Cottam running in has Levell closing her down the keeper dropping she smashes her shot against her the ball spins loose in front of goal, Cottam is after it and sends the rebound home to make the score 1-2 and set up a grandstand finish to the match.
Everton are the ones doing the attacking though as Millie Turner sees the run from Vicky Jones on the right, it's another timely tackle from Owen inside her box to deny her a shot on goal. Whipp chases a ball played out to the right across the area wide right Leach has committed herself to coming after the ball has left her goal, Whipp attempts to get her cross past the keeper and into the net the ball is off target as Hayley Crackle is back to kick the ball clear.
End of the match and it's joy for Everton Ladies as they run out 2-1 winners in their 1st league game in FAWSL 2 have 3 points on the board and are the early (and it is early) leaders with Millwall Lionesses and London Bees also opening their league campaign tonight playing out a 0-0 draw.
Good football from both sides tonight, both look in good shape for the coming season ahead and I look forwards to seeing both again in the coming months.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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