Early days in the new season of FAWSL2 this is the 3rd league match of the campaign for both sides. Oxford United Women have already started this season far better than the last, got off to a poor start, took them 6 league games before they recorded their 1st victory. This time round it was a much more positive opening. A match at home to Watford Ladies a goal from a free kick by captain Sahara Osbourne-Ricketts sealing a 1-0 win and a confidence boosting 3 points.
Lost away to Durham Women last time out, now back at The Northcourt, whom they share with Abingdon United FC, they will be hoping they can keep winning at home.
Yeovil Town Ladies started their 2015 campaign against 2 of the teams that are expected to be chasing for promotion. Found Fran Kirby in irresistible form as she and Reading FC Women travelled to Sherbourne Town FC on the opening day the England hotshot scoring all 4 of Reading's goals, Yeovil Town Ladies scored twice going down 2-4.
Next up a Saturday evening trip to play Doncaster Rovers Belles, worked hard kept a good shape limited Doncaster's attacks but the home side capitalised on a mistake at the back to open the scoring going on to win the match 2-1. Yet to pick up a point Yeovil Town Ladies know they need to get some numbers in that final column in the league table quickly.
The black clouds were rolling in was an overcast sky when I arrived at the ground, not much cover and some of that was occupied by the drums of the Yeovil Town Ladies travelling support still the rain kept away. The pitch has seen a lot of football but was in good shape hosted a couple of cup finals just a fortnight ago.
Oxford United Women starting XI - Demi Lambourne, Laura Nichol, Chloe Bruce, Rosie Lane, Sahara Osbourne-Ricketts (C), Kayleigh Hines, Katherine Nutman, Ella Franklin-Fraiture, Holly Pickett, Katie Stanley & Lauren Allison.
subs - Hannah Cox, Amy Chivers, Isi Meade, Lindsay Pinker, Laura Low & Hanna Jaadla.
Yeovil Town Ladies starting XI - Charlotte Hayes, Ellie Isaac, Corinne Yorston, Nicola Cousins, Natalie Haigh (C), Stephanie Williams, Ellie Curson, Shauna Cossens, Helen Bleazard, Annie Heatherson & Alys Hinchcliffe.
subs - Stacey Pearson, Amy Wathan, Ebony Dover, Sarah Hill & Emily Donovan.
To the match action and it's Oxford to get the match under way kitted out in their yellow shirts with navy band, navy shorts and socks with Yeovil kitted out in white and green stripe fronted shirts, white shorts and green and white hooped socks. Oxford get the ball straight up the other end of the pitch however trying to break into the box run the ball out of play.
It's Yeovil who register the 1st attempt on goal with good hold up play from Annie Heatherson on the edge of the box, strong against Oxford captain Sahara Osbourne-Ricketts she turns her makes the space for a shot, blazes the ball over the crossbar.
Few long passes tried early on from both sides resulting in a bit of head tennis as the ball is exchanged between the sides before Heatherson leaps onto a poor ball out from the back by Oxford, drives into the box, good defending from Rosie Lane at centre back to get the ball away.
Katherine Nutman puts in a good tackle to win the ball in the middle, looks to link up with Ella Fraciture-Franklin making the run in front of her, she in turn is looking to play the pass out to the right to set Katie Stanley away, strays offside the flag is raised. Playing 3 at the back, Nicola Cousins and Ellie Issacs operating either side of captain Natalie Haigh are prepared to bring the ball out. It's Issac's who plays a great long range pass up to the strikers, Alys Hinchcliffe with the attempted flick to bring the ball down can't control gives Osbourne-Ricketts a chance to roll the ball back to Demi Lambourne in goal.
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| Yeovil Town Ladies Ellie Issacs |
Franklin-Fraiture is fouled by Ellie Curson in a dangerous position 25 yards out central to the goal. It's Osbourne-Ricketts over the free kick, she smashes her 1st attempt into the wall, rebounding back to her bouncing up she puts her foot through the shot, is swerving towards the top corner has Hayes in the Yeovil goal beaten, smashes against the post and cannons back out across the goal face before Yeovil clear it.
Alys Hinchcliffe playing up top for Yeovil is working hard trying to get onto the ball and hold it up waiting for support to arrive lays it out to the left for Corinne Yorston she plays the ball back into the area looking to pick out Helen Bleazard arriving in the centre, a timely header from Oxford's Laura Nichol denies her the chance to have an attempt on goal.
Yeovil are starting to dominate possession with Bleazard and Yorston providing the width and numbers going forwards have Oxford penned in leaving Lauren Allison more often than not up against 3 centre backs.
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| Yeovil captain Natalie Haigh & Oxford's Lauren Allison challenge for the ball |
Heatherson is full of energy, covering a lot of grass to hassle the Oxford defenders links up well with Yorston on the left, they win a corner. Played in with a lot of pace it flashes across goal, is met at the far post by Nicola Cousins steaming in gets her head to the ball at close range but wide of goal.
Oxford's chances are limited win another free kick wide on the left inside Yeovil territory, it's Osbourne-Ricketts over the ball again plays it in hard and low towards the near post has Allison making the run towards it looking to get something on it divert it past Hayes, doesn't look to make any contact, tricky one for Hayes though as she goes to ground the ball bouncing in front of her reacts well to make the save.
More good play from Oxford with Nichol on the left playing the ball inside to Nutman who spreads it out to the right into the feet of Katie Stanley, holds the ball up before laying it back to Chloe Bruce who attempts to play a high ball into the box, too close to Hayes who makes the catch. Another Oxford free kick close to the by line on the right of the Yeovil box Osbourne-Ricketts flashes the ball into Stanley 12 yards out she sends her shot wide takes a nick a corner is given.
The corner comes in a great delivery, Kayleigh Hines is the one rising to meet it headers the ball towards goal only to find Ellie Curson has the post covered. Yeovil are not happy with some of the refereeing decisions being made. The referee does issue the 1st yellow card of the match to Osbourne-Ricketts though after she brings down Hinchcliffe just outside the box to the right of goal. Yorston plays the ball in Lambourne with good fists to punch the ball away.
Half-time Oxford United Women 0-0 Yeovil Town Ladies
Interesting 1st half Yeovil have had by far more of the ball yet haven't tested Lambourne nearly as much as Oxford have tested Hayes in their goal. With another 45 minutes to come though Oxford need to get the ball into the final 3rd more can't keep giving it back to Yeovil.
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| Annie Heatherson with the referee having a discussion where both sides agreed to disagree |
It's the visitors to kick off the 2nd half as the floodlights take full effect, Oxford win the ball and set Stanley away on the right she links up well with Allison in the middle the return ball giving Stanley the chance to move into space before laying the ball back to Bruce who tries to play another high cross towards the far post, again gets it to close to Hayes.
GOAL! Finally after watching 3 halves of football already today I see a goal. Yeovil take the lead, it's Curson I think who plays the forward pass into Heatherson setting her up for a run at goal. Lambourne comes racing out towards the edge of her area to try and stop her, Heatherson lobs the ball over her it bounces in front of goal and up onto the cross bar, Yeovil have players racing in and it's Yorston who sends the ball home from a yard out to open the scoring 0-1.
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| Oxford United Women's Lauren Allison. |
Oxford almost equalise with a lobbed attempt of their own moments later as the ball in put into Allison on the edge of the area, same with Lambourne, Hayes is rushing out to try and close her down goes to ground Allison gets the ball over her, this time though the ball rolls wide of goal.
A very tight call from the linesman as Hinchcliffe is adjudged to have been offside playing off the shoulder of Osbourne-Ricketts, Heatherson looking to play her in on goal. The visitors have a corner soon after with Yorston the taker looking to place it under the bar, Lambourne does very well under challenge takes the ball even as her own player takes her out.
The challenges are continuing to upset Yeovil, Stephanie Williams goes into the book for a foul on Franklin-Fraiture, the referee then has to have a word with Yeovil manager Jamie Sherwood. Yeovil though are on top in the match now pressing forwards with conviction.
It's Heatherson on the rampage again on the ball down the left, coming inside bursts into the area fires a cross over looking for Hinchcliffe, over her head the ball comes through to Bleazard she looks to strike the ball flashes over the bar, must have taken a nick a corner is given.
GOAL! Yeovil add a 2nd from the resulting corner another great ball played in towards the far post finds Nicola Cousins with a free header a bullet she sends the ball into the back of the net 0-2.
Sloppy play from Yeovil at the back allows Oxford to steal the ball in their final 3rd, Stanley who started the move gets the ball back 25 yards out, looks to go for goal blasts her shot over the bar.
A triple change for Oxford with 70 minutes gone it's Lindsay Pinker, Laura Low and Isi Meade to come onto the field for Franklin-Fraiture, Nichol and Holly Pickett.
Yeovil are the ones looking the more likely to add to their goals tally as Cousins is fouled on the edge of the D a central position Bleazard goes for goal the shot narrowly over the bar.
GOAL! Yeovil extend their lead from another set piece a corner played in from the right is headed up and on at the near post coming through to the far side of goal where Heatherson is coming in to meet the ball bundles it past Lambourne to score 0-3.
Hinchcliffe comes off for Yeovil to be replaced by Sarah Hill up front. She is left pole axed by Osbourne-Ricketts as she slides in from behind outside the area, the referee though allows play to go on.
Oxford's break down the right hand side of the pitch with Hines on the ball she plays the ball into the box, think it's Stanley in the box who attempts to hook the ball over her head turn it towards goal puts it over the bar. Late change for Yeovil with Amy Wathan on the pitch for Shauna Cossens.
Late attack from Oxford with Stanley in the middle laying the ball off to Hines on her left before continuing her run, Hines attempts to play her in Hayes though is out quickly to save at her feet. The final whistle blows and Yeovil win by 3 goals to nil to claim their 1st 3 points in the league.
A strong performance, especially in the 2nd half had a lot of width with Bleazard and Yorston. Heatherson and Hinchcliffe both working hard up top to presented the Oxford defence with challenges all game. The home side in turn will be disappointed with the performance with Yeovil's wing backs pushing their wide players back it left Lauren Allison up against 3 defenders.
A good days football, 2 matches watched some goals to write about in the end, plenty more football to come.
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