Nearly 24 hours has passed since Birmingham City Ladies and Arsenal Ladies locked horns in the the Champions League quarter final, so I hardly think you need another match report I'm sure you all know what happened by now. Getting home during the small hours and needing to be up for work left little room for blogging so we'll settle for a match summary.
Had this match taken place just six months ago I think very few outside of the Birmingham faithful would have seen anything other than Arsenal progressing through to the semi-finals of the competition. Such has been the movement of players in the WSL and in particular departing the long time dominant woman's football team in England. Birmingham too though had lost some of their more experienced players had in their place invested in youth, where as Shelley Kerr at Arsenal has moved to fill her squad with experienced internationals.
Most now really couldn't call a result in this all English Champions League tie with so many new faces on display on both teams. Also going into the tie Arsenal were without midfield maestro Jordan Nobbs due to an injury picked up during the Cyprus Cup. The 1st leg was to be played at St Andrews the home stadium of Birmingham City. Thankfully being one of the last cars squeezed into the carpark inside the ground we were all set for what I expected to be a fantastic night for women's football.
The note of personal interest from my point of view were both teams were fielding a former Ladyimp, Casey Stoney in the red and white of Arsenal and Remi Allen in the blue of Birmingham two of my favourite players (this is a list that continues to grow). Casey Stoney is a fantastic defender and a leader on the pitch tonight her defensive partner was Yukari Kinga a vastly experienced player in her own right. Remi Allen's position was of interest to me at Lincoln she was deployed mainly as a defensive midfielder, but there is far more to her game than that. Signed by Birmingham who already had a solid midfield partnership in Jo Potter and Jade Moore I was hoping to see manager David Parker play her in front of the pair where I felt she could really make an impact.
And so she did right in the heart of the action with Melissa Lawley and Karen Carney on the flanks she was to operate behind lone striker Kirsty Linnett. Had the first real chance at scoring. Kelly Smith was playing in a deeper role in midfield with Shinobu Ohno looking to support striker Danielle Carter for Arsenal. It didn't really work Birmingham to there credit were working hard to make sure Arsenal couldn't find any flow on the ball.
Birmingham's chances were stacking up and it was Remi Allen who popped up with a goal on her debut for her new club on 26 minutes. I was taking notes as I usually do even though I hadn't planned a match report the chances were all going to Birmingham. Arsenal had plenty of space Carter was making herself available and with Linnett up front on her own both full backs could bomb on. Birmingham though defended stoutly working hard as a team to frustrate and then break with purpose.
The game was to end with Birmingham taking a 1 goal lead into the 2nd leg and an all important clean sheet, largely due to Arsenal failing to register a shot on target. Birmingham were on song bouyed on by a healthy crowd of 2671 making it a great atomosphere. Arsenal were below par, they will know that and be frustrated things didn't click, certainly missed the passing ability and driving runs of Jordan Nobbs but they have a wealth of experienced players who can put on a display with only one goal in it are far from out of it but know they will have to lift their game. Birmingham too know the job is only half done a confidence boosting performance they will have to do it all over again in the 2nd leg this Sunday at The Hive.
Remi Allen had a debut to remember it was pleasing to witness. Special mention must go to another debutant for Birmingham, left back Jessica Carter who at just 16 years old was named player of the match didn't look fazed by the occasion at all and certainly one to look out for in the future.
It's rare these days for me to take pictures at a match but I did have the camera out last night, below is a link to my set on facebook I hope it works okay...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/edit/a.10203014771322084.1073741869.1588770906/#!/darren.gilham/media_set?set=a.10203014771322084.1073741869.1588770906&type=1¬if_t=like
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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