Match Report - Stalham Town LFC v Bohemians LFC Norfolk Div Two

                                          WARNING!

                    This match report contains sunshine.
    
    18 degrees... that was the temperature that registered in the car as I arrived todays venue Rivers Park in the North East of Norfolk. No Coat. No Hat and No Umbrella required the sunglasses needed to be dug out in fact such was the turn around in the rotten wet and horrible weather the women's footballing calendar has suffered of late. At last the SUN was out! Plan this weekend had always been to go see a game in Norfolk and this time in Division Two to see two teams for the 1st time. Rivers Park is the home ground for Stalham Town Ladies. Their opponents today Bohemians Ladies (who play in Belton in South East Norfolk).

  With the weather set fair the match was to be against two reasonably matched teams in terms of results in the league so far this season. Bohemians were in 3rd place having played 15, W7, D4, L4 on 25pts. Stalham in 6th having played 14, W6, D4, L4 on 22pts with the middle of the table being very tight. Therefore I expected this to be a pretty tight encounter. Bohemians though were at a disadvantage as their goalkeeper was running late. Started the game with an outfield player in goal with the knowledge she was minutes away.
    
    Stalham in their all red strip got the match underway their opponents in pink shirts, black shorts and socks with the sun at their backs in the first half. An edgey start Stalham were unable to test the replacement keeper before their 1st choice arrived and quickly took her place between the sticks. Bohemians had the 1st chance a shot drilled wide of the post from a low driven corner. The visitors were pressing high up the pitch to win the ball Stalham got bodies back to help leaving one up top, looked to find her and beat the offside trap when they won the ball.

    It was from one of these balls that Stalham no7 Emma Ward had a fantastic chance to open the scoring driving with the ball had two Bohemians defenders on her as they squeezed the striker she was able the work the ball away to her right find the space to shoot inside the box but sent the effort wide. Ward was in again minutes later coming into the box from the left channel, the final shot tame Bohemians keeper was able to gather.

    At the other end Bohemians had a chance to take the lead a shot stabbed towards goal with the outside of the boot from the edge of the D went narrowly wide. Stalham's keeper rushing out of her box soon after to close down an attack as their offside trap was sprung. Stalham though with an extra body in the middle of the park were able to win back possession even though they could not find a through ball to capitalise. Pushing Bohemians back further to the edge of their box the visitors failed to clear it in quick succession finding a red shirt each time the ball came out to Stalham's no9 Kerri Eke on the right hand side of the six yard box and she drilled it into the back of the net 1-0.

Half-time and Stalham had the advantage 1-0

   It had gotten a little niggly in the 1st half Bohemians not happy with some decisions that had gone against them but at 1-0 they were still very much in the match, came out the strongest at the start of the 2nd half determined to win the ball but like the home side winning it and making it stick was proving elusive. Stalham were to have the 1st real scoring chance as they won possession back in midfield no14 Katie Clarke with a powerful 25 yard strike driven low along the ground had the keeper diving but the effort was wide. Clarke with another effort from the edge of the box heading for goal but the defender on the post did her job and cleared the danger.

    With roll on roll off subs both Kerri Eke and Emma Ward had been off the pitch now returning it was no7 Ward driving at goal that was to win a corner for Stalham. Taken from the left the ball came out back to that side and from close to the touchline near the top edge of the box Kerri Eke had a shot/cross that sailed over everyone and into the far corner to make it 2-0 to Stalham.

    Bohemians were having joy down the flanks their no7 Laura Furi was looking dangerous with the ball at her feet looking to drive forwards got into the box from the left drilled a ball across goal no team mate could meet it and Stalham cleared. Bohemians keeper was forced into a sharp save from a Stalham corner dropping down quickly to smother the ball from a shot six yards out. She had to come off a little while later as she collected a ball in the side of the face rushing out to stop a Stalham break.

    Stalham scored a 3rd goal and Emma Ward's play derserved the opportunity. Shaking off her marker in the box was able to fashion a shot as she fell the effort was drilled hard at the replacement keeper who didn't move struck her legs and went in. Will probably be classed as an own goal but I would give it to Ward. 3-0 with just a few minutes to play Stalham had the points in the bag. Bohemians though kept coming perserved down the flanks both sides were tiring (someone informed everyone she wanted to go to the pub) Another cross was drilled across Stalham's goal this time Laura Furi having moved out to the right wing was on hand at the far post to bundle the ball over the line and make the final score 3-1 to Stalham.

     The result sees Stalham move up to 5th level on points with Bohemians who drop to 4th as another middle placed team Red Rose moved above them after a 4-0 over Earlham Colney. The top two places are being contested by Mulbarton Belles (top) and Long Stratton Ladies who both won comfortably today, Mulbarton 4-0 at home to Freethorpe Ladies and Long Stratton again at home to bottom side Harleston 9-0.

    Enjoy coming down the leagues to watch a game not always taken as seriously but then you do see more often the enjoyment and fun the players get out of playing the game.