Match Report - Grimsby Borough Ladies v Nettleham Ladies

      For the 3rd match in a row I was taking a look at a women's football match in the regional women's football league, only this time it was a trip over to the neighbouring East Midlands set up and to get an early season look at Nettleham Ladies as they travelled to the north east of Lincolnshire to play Grimsby Borough Ladies.

     In the early stages of the new season both teams had won one and lost one going into the match. Grimsby Borough Ladies were Solar Ladies last season, back then they won promotion to the Premier Division from the Division One North league below. Since then have formed a partnership with the Grimsby Borough mens club and been renamed.

    Nettleham Ladies have a new management team in place following a strong campaign last time out that saw the club narrowly miss out on promotion to the FAWPL Midlands Division One by eventual winners Steel City Wanderers.

    I like to take in the odd women's football match in Lincolnshire following my time supporting Lincoln Ladies in the WSL see how the sport is doing within the county and this midweek clash between two of the highest league place clubs within the county was a great opportunity and a chance to catch up with a few friends from those past seasons.

     Grimsby Borough play at the Bradley Playing Fields, a newly build venue offering a club house with bar and meeting room facilities, numerous playing pitches including a 3G surface. Tonight's match on grass though the main problem it looked like was going to be the fog. A heavy covering lay in and around Grimsby, made the air feel cooler and damp the playing surface looked fairly slick, a large pitch the far side stand was barely visible as the teams emerged from the tunnel.

     Grimsby Borough Ladies starting XI - Bethany French, Rebecca Pleasants, Clodagh Summers, Charlotte Summers, Katie Pye, Lisa Cromey (C), Suzanne Green, Charlotte Townsend, Laura Flecknor, Lottie Soar & Toni McHamilton
      subs - Natalie Aird, Lauren Bamber & Daniella Whitworth


      Nettleham Ladies starting XI - Rosie Davidson, Leanne Woodhead, Shelley Futter, Jessica Maclean, Amy Compton, Sammy Wiggan, Katie Davison (C), Jennifer Purnell, Zuzana Pramukova, Stacey Aisthorpe & Kirsty Dalzell
     subs - Jodie Levick & Claire Green

    The fog and floodlights were a bad combination for trying to get any pictures to add to the report so the camera stayed in my bag as Nettleham lined up in white shirts, navy shorts and socks got the match underway against Grimsby lined up in sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts.

     The ball wasn't on the deck for much of the opening few minutes travelling rapidly from one sides defensive line to the other. As the ball came back to the Nettleham defence again everyone had gotten drawn to the left, there was a huge amount of grass for Nettleham's Sammy Wiggan to run into on the right, her run spotted the ball was played forwards for her to chase, getting to the by line she fires a fierce cross back along the edge of the penalty area where Stacey Aisthorpe is arriving to meet the ball and slot it into the back of the net to give the visitors an early lead 0-1.

      Aisthorpe is played in again shortly after an over the top ball to run onto Grimsby goalkeeper Bethany French comes charging out of the box and stands her ground claiming the ball as Aisthorpe barrels into her.

     Grimsby are getting the ball forwards trying to use their wide players on the right Lottie Soar and captain Lisa Cromey play a good one two the latter passing the ball into Charlotte Townsend central her back to goal, Nettleham won't allow her to turn and get a shot away eventually crowding her off the ball inside the box.

     Nettleham have a corner, the ball coming in from the right is met by the head of Aisthorpe the attempt on goal over. The ball bypassing midfield much of the time with attackers looking to run off the shoulders of their markers, it's Aisthorpe who looks the most likely to get on the end of something, is running after one ball coming into the box is being closed down attempts the shot with her left foot drags the ball wide of goal.

    Grimsby with a great chance to pull the scores level as Lottie Soar plays in an inviting cross from the right of the penalty area into the far post at close range Toni Mchamilton is there to meet the ball her header is blocked by Nettleham keeper Rosie Davidson, the ball is loose their is a scramble for the ball Davidson shutting out another stab goalwards before the ball is fired into the side netting.

    On their next attack Grimsby have better luck, the past out wide to Lisa Cromey on the right 20 yards from goal she shapes to shoot early sending in a low drive with pace Davidson has no time to set herself and react as the ball is past her and into the far corner to level the scores 1-1.

    Grimsby are on top for a spell, Soar with and effort from outside the box drilled wide, then a 2nd ball cross/shot from Soar is dropped by Davidson, she recovers quickly to recover the ball as Grimsby's Laura Flecknor closes her down.

   Leanne Woodhead in the right back slot for Nettleham makes a great tackle to deny Grimsby's McHamilton a free run on goal as Flecknor wins the ball in midfield and looks to play her in on the left.

    Nettleham's Kirsty Dalzell receives the ball, turns with the ball on the left, drives into the box and unleashes a strike sending the ball high past French and into the goal to restore Nettleham's lead 1-2.

    Another Nettleham chance from the left this time from Zuzana Pramukova with a forceful run has a strike from long range sends her effort in but behind the goal. Aisthorpe with the ball breaks into the box her shot is blocked inside the six yard box spinning away for a corner.

    Grimsby's Flecknor is alert to win the ball back from Nettleham high up the pitch looks to play a good pass into the run of Soar, just a little too much on the pass allows Davison to come off her line a claim the ball before Soar can reach it.

    Townsend plays in Cromey on the right coming inside she shoots from outside the box the strike over the crossbar. Flecknor has a chance to put another good ball in late on which Nettleham head clear off the line.

                            Half-time Grimsby Borough Ladies 1-2 Nettleham Ladies

    A lively 1st half of football the ball not spending much time in midfield, both sides are physical the slick surface meaning challenges have to be perfectly timed, both teams have covered alot of ground.

     Grimsby to kick off the 2nd half. It's Nettleham with the early attacking play as a move breaks down Pramukova on the left stays up the pitch the ball won back is passed into her she heads for the by line puts in a good cross for Dalzell and Aisthorpe to attack, French though makes a vital catch.

    Nettleham break after a spell of possession in and around thier box from Grimsby comes to an end, it's Pramukova again on the left puts another cross in but again straight at the keeper.

    French has to come off her line again outside her box to clear the ball with Aisthorpe closing her down the ball spinning wide for a throw. From the dead ball the ball is crossed into the box at the near post 6 yards out Dalzell meets the ball powers the shot wide of the post.

     Peeling out into the left channel Grimsby's Cromey, has good vision to play her cross towards the far post looking for the run from Flecknor, Woodhead though makes an important black the ball going behind for a corner, the ball coming in low a shot is blocked as it's fired into the crowd before Nettleham clear.

   Grimsby make a change Katie Pye coming off for Natalie Aird. At the back it's Grimsby's Charlotte Summers with a good tackle to deny Aisthorpe as she looks to push her way through the centre.

    Grimsby don't stop Aisthorpe for long though, this time though it is Pramukova on the left who unlocks their defence stealing past her marker to put in a perfect cross into the middle to give Aisthorpe an easy tap in to give Nettleham their 3rd, 1-3.

   3 becomes 4 in quick succession this time a good piece of individual skill from Aisthorpe to bring up her hat-trick. Head down she runs forwards with the ball form the middle coming to the edge of the box strikes the ball low and hard into the corner of the net to give Nettleham a 3 goal cushion 1-3.

    Grimsby are struggling to get any forward moves going, their full back busy dealing with the threat from Pramukova on the left and Wiggan on the right, Aisthorpe and Dalzell strong in the centre, Townsend is booked for a late tackle on Aisthorpe as the visitors make a double change bringing off Wiggan and Katie Davison for Jodie Levick and Claire Green.

    Grimsby take off Clodagh Summers bring on Lauren Baumber. Pushed back by Nettleham, Cromey does her best to make herself available for the out pass on the right there is space there, when she does get the ball Nettleham's Amy Compton does well to come back on the cover and win the ball.

    Cromey get's some support from Aird, they combine get the ball into the Nettleham area, Aird's shot is blocked. Grimsby have a corner late on the ball is half cleared by Nettleham, but with numbers up Grimsby retain the ball as Aird wins it back in a central position, passes the ball out wide to Soar on the edge of the box she lashes the ball towards goal firing it across the keeper and into the back of the net to pull one goal back 2-4.

    Into the closing stages both teams are tiring Nettleham still have a 2 goal cushion, no need to press for more look to keep the ball prevent Grimsby mounting any late revivial, do their job as the referee blows the final whistle and Nettleham win by 4 goals to 2 taking the 3 points.

   Were much the stronger team in the 2nd half with Aisthorpe getting her hat-trick a phyiscal game their will be a few briuses to show come the morning. The fog and damp a reminder the winter months will soon be here.

    I thank both clubs for helping me out with team details and wish them well for the rest of the season.

 

 

Match Report Nettleham LFC v Rise Park LFC East Midlands Regional Premier

   Todays match saw me taking in another new league this season the East Midlands Regional Premier Division and return to Lincolnshire to see a women's football match since Lincoln Ladies played their last ever gamebefore their rebranding and move to Nottingham. The team who have taken their place as the premier women's team in Lincolnshire is Nettleham Ladies FC situated just north of Lincoln there home ground Mulsanne Park. For once the weather had been reasonably good although the wind had been steadily growing and bitingly cold too. It was also a chance for me to catch up with some fellow former ladyimps fans and friends who have become Nettleham supporters.
    Nettleham are having a pretty successful league campaign to date sitting 2nd in the East Midlands Regional Premier having played 11, won 9 and lost 2. Rise Park LFC their opponents from neighbouring Nottinghamshire were the bottom placed team in the league having yet to seal a win had played 11, drawn 4 and lost 7. Has to be noted however closer examination of Rise Park's results shows they are only getting beaten by the odd goal and are not getting rolled over in matches so Nettleham certainly couldn't take anything for granted as kitted out in sky blue their opponents in dark blue shirts and socks with black shorts got the match under way.
     Nettleham had the strong wind at their back as they attacked Rise Park's goal I was told this was a much changed starting XI for the home side with players away or unavailable and two loanee's were making debuts others playing out of their usual position. Stacey Ainsthorpe was one player I recognised from her Lincoln days and it was she up front who was causing Rise Park some problems shaking off her marker to receive the ball then turn and drive at goal. With the wind in their favour corner kicks would cause problems if well delivered one whipped in from the left early on was knocked down in the box only for the keeper to parry it away finding a Nettleham player the shot was blazed over the bar.
    Soon after another corner from the right found Ainsthorpe at the back post but she could only nod the ball wide of goal. In fact Ainsthorpe was looking to get a shot in on goal at the earliest opportunity ran off her marker into the box then dragged the shot wide. Play was well and truly in Rise Park's half of the pitch the away side could not find an outlet. That said for all their dominance Rise Park's keeper had had very little to save the home side's attempts often early were long range and off target. The visitors had a rear foray into Nettlehams penalty box but captain Katie Davison playing a centre back was quick to intecept the ball and clear the danger.
    The half was coming to a close Rise Park had done well to frustrate Nettleham it looked like the half would end goalless however Nettleham won a corner from the left the previous deliveries had been dangerous this one was perfect into the six yard box came off the back of Ainsthorpe's head and into the net.

Half time 1-0

    Nettleham kicked off the 2nd half without Ainsthorpe with loan signing Ashton Crouch moving into the advanced role the game was instantly more open Rise Park had been working hard to frustrate Nettleham and keep them out with a goal conceded it seemed to open them up had players willing to make runs use the wind now in their favour like Nettleham had. Nettleham in turn were having plenty of joy down the flanks particulary the right play was spread further on the pitch Nettleham no longer able to defend the half way line made for a more even contest.
    Rise Park got players up and around the box Nettleham allowed them to have space for a shot but the effort rolled just the wrong side of the post. Nettlehams Zuzana Pramukova out on the left wing had a run on goal the shot was lifted over the bar. Some determined blocking of Nettleham shots kept them in the game It was another set piece that was to bring Nettlehams 2nd goal this time from loan signing Ashton Crouch pictured below the ball driven from the edge of the box through the crowded penalty box and into the net the 2nd picture is that rare occasion where I actually capture the moment a goal is scored...

 

    At last Nettleham had their 2nd goal Rise Park to their credit kept going as they had all 2nd half there efforts bringing about a mistake from Nettleham's defence that led to a free kick being given out on the left about 35 yards from goal and with the wind you knew if delivered well the set piece could cause problems. The delivery was spot on the header met perfectly a bullet into the net from Rise Park's Amy Lester to make the score 2-1 and ensure a not so comfortable finish. Nettleham got the ball out to Pramukova her run and shot brought a sharp low save from Rise Park's keeper at the other end the away side had a player tugged back the resulting free kick bringing a corner that cleared the final kick of the match and Nettleham win 2-1 to claim the 3pts.
     This result leaves Nettleham on 49 goals so far this season and I understand a box of chocolates is the prize for the player who gets the 50th... so the next game might be a little competitive I shall be looking out to see who wins.