New blood entering the FAWSL the first side to do so through promotion from the FA Women's Premier League. Sheffield FC Ladies, Champions of the FAWPL Northern Division in the 2014/15 season playing in a play-off match with the Champions of the FAWPL Southern Division that same season, Portsmouth FC Ladies. A last gasp winner from Sheffield FC Ladies, Lisa Giampalma seeing Sheffield FC Ladies win the match and win a place in FAWSL 2 in 2016.
That was back in May 2015 and since then the club has had a long wait to play a competitive match. Plenty of time to prepare for life in the new league, had announced the arrival of former Sunderland AFC Ladies head coach, Mick Mulhern as first team manager, however Mulhern has since left the club for personnel reasons with Zoe Johnson taking over the role.
With Mulhern in charge the club had been busy recruiting new faces to add to their squad to compete in the FAWSL, bringing in England youth international, Sherry McCue previously captain of Aston Villa Ladies, joining McCue from Aston Villa Ladies is defender, Emily Owen. The back line is further strengthened by the arrival of Emma Lipman who was released by Manchester City Women. Goalkeeper Jules Draycott comes to the club having had a spell at Notts County Ladies along with winger Emily Roberts who was on loan at Doncaster Rovers Belles last season helping them to promotion. Midfielder, Hannah Dale comes to Sheffield on loan from Liverpool Ladies, With two young forwards bolstering the front line, Hannah Cain and Chelsea Flanagan.
Lisa Giampalma one of Sheffield FC Ladies longest serving players announced her retirement but the club retains a large portion of the squad that won the FAWPL Northern Division for 2 successive seasons following Sunderland AFC Ladies joining the FAWSL in 2014, will be hoping they can follow in their predecessors footsteps and achieve promotion to FAWSL 1 with 1st and 2nd going up in 2016.
Their opponents tonight in the opening match of the league in FAWSL 2 are Durham Women FC. Part of the original FAWSL 2 line up when the 2nd tier of the women's super league was introduced in 2014, The Wildcats were along with several other sides took time to adjust to what was a new beginning. After a solid 1st season had looked to build on that last season with a top half finish ultimately fell short in 7th place, however this time around feel they are stronger and better prepared their aim is to break into the top four.
Have added some new faces to their squad bringing players in from the North East clubs surrounding them, goalkeeper Megan Borthwick to add competition for Helen Alderson. Plus two from Sunderland AFC Ladies, Sarah McFadden who played a prominent role in getting them promoted to FAWSL 1 as well as defender Becky Salicki who has been out injured for a long period. Have a young squad overall and have retained the services of most who played in 2015.
The FAWSL 2 league has a different feel about it as it enters it's 3rd season, before it contained a strong pair of favourites for promotion, AFC Sunderland Ladies in 2014, Reading FC Women and Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2015. Two more go up this season and it's not so easy to call, relegated Bristol City Women will be looking to bounce straight back, whilst Everton Ladies and Yeovil Town Ladies look good bets. Could either of tonight's sides emerge as a dog horse as the season develops.
The Home of Football is the venue tonight. Was busy around the ground tonight plenty of people turning up to see Sheffield FC Ladies opening game. A good non-league ground, a large pitch with a seated stand behind one goal, a covered terraced area along side one side opposite the dugouts, club shop, and hot and cold refreshments available. Backing onto the ground is the Coach and Horses pub for any thirsty fans to gather before and after the match. A cool and clear spring night to welcome the start of the FAWSL season let's hope it continues.
Sheffield FC Ladies starting XI - Claire Wallhead, Emma Lipman, Lynn Goodman, Billie Murphy, Danielle Cox, Kerry Parkin, Sherry McCue, Ellie Gilliatt, Rhema Lord-Mears, Carla Ward (C) & Jodie Michalska.
subs - Emily Own, Hannah Dale, Chloe Dixon, Emily Roberts & Jules Draycott.
Durham Women FC starting XI - Helen Alderson, Ellie Christon, Becky Salicki, Sarah Wilson (C), Sarah McFadden, Rachel Lee, Beth Hepple, Natalie Gutteridge, Amelia Pereira, Jordan Atkinson & Nicky Gears.
subs - Megan Botherwick, Chloe Macek, Sarah Eadon & Nicola Gibson.
It's Sheffield to kick off the game wearing red shirts, black shorts and socks with Durham lined up opposite wearing and all blue kit. Sheffield have 2 of their new signings starting, Emma Lipman in defence at right back, Sherry McCue in the centre of midfield. Likewise for Durham who have both Becky Salicki and Sarah McFadden starting at right back and central defence. Play starts down the flanks both sides playing it long for their wide players to chase, out left for Sheffield, Ellie Gilliatt full of pace with an early drive at the Durham defence can't get the better of Salicki. Same for Jordan Atkinson for Durham wide left her attempt to drive with the ball on the right s brought to a halt by Lynn Goodman.
Sheffield attack bringing the ball down the right over half way is lifted high into towards Jodie Michalska in the middle 20 yards out flicks the ball on with Gilliatt making the run in behind on the left looking to get onto the end of it as she bursts into the area her shot is blocked at close range by McFadden. The action is end to end both sides attacking and countering attacking with pace and purpose. Sheffield get themselves another corner, is cleared by Durham striker, Kicky Gears back inside her area to help defend the set piece, Sheffield regain the ball, out on the left the cross is swept into the area, Durham keeper Helen Alderson punches it away near post the ball dropping to the edge of the area Gilliatt is looking to connect, hits it hard the ball is charged down as Durham block.
In attack Gears is making herself available across the front to receive the ball, peeling away to the left Natalie Gutteridge plays the ball into her path, Gears takes it on carrying it inside looking to get into the Sheffield area, isolates herself against Billie Murphy tries to shift the ball to find half a yard for the shoot the Sheffield central defender times her tackle perfectly to win the ball. Gears comes again with the ball this time sends the pass out to the right with Atkinson bombing on, whips her cross in towards the near post Sheffield's Danielle Cox defends the near post area tracking back the ball out for a corner kick.
Gutteridge is inside the box as Durham win a throw deep inside the Sheffield half the cross is lofted high in towards the area right a couple of yards inside, Gutteridge tries to pull off an acrobatic overhead kick, meets the ball as she falls, manages to get it on target, but without any power or height is an easy take for Sheffield keeper, Claire Wallhead. 15 minutes played a corner kick for Durham on the right a good delivery from Beth Hepple sees the ball met by their captain Sarah Wilson rising unchallenged at the near post looks to head the ball across the goal put it in far side, Wallhead is well placed to gather the headed ball into her body.
Up the other end Alderson is called into action to make a save, Michalska is released down the left side into the channel a powerful run sees her surge into the area closing in on the byline she get's her shot away under the sliding defender looking to block the shot fizzes in near post, Alderson is down quickly turning it behind for the corner kick. Wilson rises highest inside the Durham box to get the ball away for the visitors. Sheffield enjoy a spell of sustained possession inside the Durham final third winning a succession of corners 1st left, then on the right side the ball is cleared up the halfway line, Sheffield getting it ball lay it out right to the corner taker Gilliatt coming to receive, looks to come inside 20 yards out and release her shot, get's it on target low bouncing along the ground doesn't trouble Alderson.
Wilson setting up to cut out a Sheffield through ball on halfway rings the ball on has Gutteridge back to goal 25 yards out ahead of her puts the ball into her moving right wanting it back, get's it as Gutteridge spins off her marker looking to get inside the area, Wilson tries to put the ball back into her, Cox has closed Gutteridge down and gets a foot on the pass to break up the move. Durham's Rachel Lee is getting time on the ball in the middle, has good movement in front of her Gears central with Pereira and Atkinson on the flanks. Plenty of energy on show from both sides is seeing the match played at a furious pace, that is seeing several attempted final balls getting wasted.
Counter attack from Sheffield, Lipman on the right winning the ball and lifting it up to Michalska central tries the flick on again with Gilliatt coming in from the left behind her, the bounce of the ball just won't fall for her inside the D, gives Durham's Salicki a chance to get hold of it and clear. The ball is sent up the right with Gears racing after it takes it on before taking on the early shot 25 yards out wide the ball flashes across the Sheffield area and out for a goal kick far side of the goal. Hepple latches onto the ball after a frantic passage of play from both sides trying to get control of the ball in the centre of the park Hepple gets hold of it on halfway and powers her way forwards unleashes a shot 20 yards out, gets plenty behind the ball, is close but flashes wide of goal.
Michalska is clipped as she looks to turn on the ball and play Gilliatt down the line on the left side, the referee plays advantage with Gilliatt on the ball taking it to the byline, shows good footwork to make space for the cross, bodies between her and the goal however Wilson is back to cut it out. Rhema Lord-Mears comes inside to join the Sheffield attack the ball helped on to her by captain Carla Ward Lord-Mears heads it wide to Gilliatt who looks to header the ball back across into the middle with Michalska breaking into the area, McFadden gets her head on the ball before the striker.
GOAL! 2 minutes of normal time left in the 1st half and the deadlock is broken. Durham have possession of the ball on the right inside the Sheffield half, getting onto the ball Atkinson turns in field and carrying the ball in towards the Sheffield area sends a curling shot across the goal and into the far corner 0-1.
Time at the end of the 1st half for Lee to pick up the 1st yellow card of the night following a robust challenge on Ward in the middle but at half-time it's the visitors who lead.
Half-time Sheffield FC Ladies 0-1 Durham Women FC
Durham get the 2nd half underway as the attendance is announced as 474, a good crowd getting behind the teams under the floodlights. Sheffield win the ball back early put it down the right for Lord-Mears the ball is played into the area Michalska gets something on it the ball ends up behind for a goal kick. Not long after Michalska a shot blocked by Salicki as she looks to come inside from a left position. Early pressure applied by the home side the ball put long as Durham look to counter, sees Michalska run clear after the ball, Alderson has to come racing out of her area to kick the ball clear her kick is charged down by the Sheffield no 9 rebounds off her up into the area beyond but away from goal, Salicki is 1st to it and clears.
Wilson plays a high ball up on half way into the area with Gears inside looking to control, good defending from Lipman as Gears tries to play in Pereira coming in from the left. Kerry Parkin in the middle of the pitch for Sheffield releases Michalska down the right channel, a powerful run on the ball she wraps her foot around the shot, firing the ball in towards the near post, good save from Alderson down quickly momentarily loses the ball but recovers.
The frantic nature of the game is seeing both sides lose the ball and no one is interested in keeping hold of it looking for the quick release stretch the opposition. Ellie Christon has been making good runs from left back for Durham all game looking to join in the play linking up well with Pereira ahead of her, getting forwards crosses into the area, Cox rising get's her head onto the ball to clear with Hepple coming in beyond her. Ward has a pop for a good way out rolls through to Alderson. End to end the ball is played through the centre Hepple putting it up for Gears into the box looks to bring it down on her chest and hit on the turn, her touch is a little heavy the ball running away from her giving Sheffield the chance to defend.
Best chance of the night for Sheffield to get back on level terms with play developing down the right side players are drawn across, Lord-Mears right of the area see's Gilliatt is free over on the left side inside the box plays a great pass into her six yards out she looks to meet the ball as it lands has all the goal to shoot at, the contact is heavy the ball is put high and wide.
Corner kick for Sheffield on the left a great ball is put into the six yard box dropping amongst bodies in front of goal a scramble for the ball, Alderson saves twice putting her body in the way to save on the line even as the Sheffield fans behind the goal went up in unison to celebrate. Play is halted as in the melee Durham have a player down on the goal line with a head wound, blood, it's Gutteridge who needs lengthy treatment with 20 minutes gone. Needs to replace her shirt and returns to the field heavily bandaged up.
Sheffield make a change bringing on Hannah Dale for McCue with 15 minutes left plus what will be a long period of injury time following treatment for Gutteridge and now Gilliatt who is hurt as she builds up a head of steam and collides with the defender coming across her. Despite her head wound Gutteridge is putting herself about, spreading play out to the right as Gears demands it be fed into the channel she races after it getting in behind Sheffield, flashes a cross through the six yard box, Pereira is trying to get in at the far post just beyond her reach. Chloe Macek comes on for Durham replacing Pereira.
Gutteridge goes up for a header, and you're thinking 'don't do that!' but she does anyway but her efforts bring her side a corner kick as Goodman is forced to concede with Gears on her shoulder inside the area. The ball is half cleared to the edge of the area, Gears gets hold of it looks to turn and find space for a shot, shifts it left the right, scuffs the final ball rolls tamely through to Wallhead. 8 minutes of injury time to be played. Late possession is with the visitors as Sheffield can't get anything to stick up top, Atkinson down the line for Gears on the right the pass is heavy however the attacker gets hold of it closing in on the byline cuts the ball back in towards goal, Wallhead is covering her near post doesn't go beyond her.
Late into the game Sheffield are piling players forwards, the ball played down the line for Lipman ahead of play in the right does well to win a corner kick. A fantastic delivery swinging into the centre of goal, Alderson makes a brilliant save falling on her line the ball threatening to creep in under the bar, punches it away to the edge of the area, Macek tackles to put the ball out for a throw. Late into the game Atkinson comes off for Durham as they introduced Nicola Gibson to the action. Lipman sends a high ball into the Durham area, McFadden under it puts her headed clearance out to the edge of the area, Dale latches onto it but fires wide.
Final action of the match as Durham hold on to win the game 1-0 courtesy of Jordan Atkinson's 1st half strike to open their 2016 FAWSL 2 campaign with 3 points. Put in a solid performance Wilson and McFadden with a solid base at the back to build from. Sheffield FC Ladies had the chances to get themselves at least a point and will be disappointed to start with a lose but look good will have no problems competing in FAWSL 2 this season. Both sides know they gave the ball away too much.
Enjoyed my 1st FAWSL game of 2016 another ground ticked off will no doubt venture back up to Sheffield again. My thanks to the club for the hospitality and help tonight always appreciated.
Enjoyed my 1st FAWSL game of 2016 another ground ticked off will no doubt venture back up to Sheffield again. My thanks to the club for the hospitality and help tonight always appreciated.
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